Om Prakash Chautala, a prominent figure in Haryana politics and leader of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), passed away on December 20, 2024, at his residence in Gurugram following a cardiac arrest. He was 89 years old.
Born on January 1, 1935, near Sirsa, Chautala was the son of Chaudhary Devi Lal, a key figure in Haryana’s formation and a former Deputy Prime Minister of India. Following in his father’s political footsteps, Chautala became a significant force in state politics.
Chautala served multiple terms as Chief Minister of Haryana during his political career. He held the position four times: from December 1989 to May 1990, July 1990 to July 1990, March 1991 to April 1991, and from July 1999 to March 2005.
However, his career was not without controversy. In May 2022, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court sentenced him to four years in prison in a disproportionate assets case, making him the oldest prisoner in Delhi’s Tihar Jail at the age of 87.
Chautala’s family has been deeply involved in politics. His son, Abhay Singh Chautala, is an MLA from the Ellenabad constituency and has served as the Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Legislative Assembly. His grandson, Dushyant Chautala, leads the Jannayak Janata Party and has served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana.
The passing of Om Prakash Chautala marks the end of an era in Haryana politics, leaving behind a complex legacy of leadership and controversy.
, passed away on December 20, 2024, at his residence in Gurugram following a cardiac arrest. He was 89 years old.){kind=link}