OP Chautala Jat leader, and five- time Haryana CM dies

PTI Chandigarh: Indian National Lok Dal president and five-time Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala died here on Friday at the age of 89. Chautala, who was former deputy prime minister Devi Lal’s son, suffered a cardiac arrest at his house here and was immediately rushed to a hospital but could not be saved, a party spokesperson told PTI. He breathed his last at around 12 noon in Medanta hospital, a senior police officer said.

Chautala, who came from a prominent political family in Haryana and was face of a prominent regional outfit, had been facing age-related health issues in the recent past. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were among a host of leaders who condoled the demise of Chautala. Expressing grief, Modi said on X, “He (Chautala) was active in the state politics for many years and strove constantly to advance the work of Devi Lal.” Saini said the demise of the INLD supremo is extremely sad. “My humble tribute to him. He served the state and society throughout his life. This is an irreparable loss for the politics of the country and Haryana state,” Saini said on X.

Five-time Haryana chief minister and the man who passed his Class 12 exams from Tihar Jail when he was 82, Om Prakash Chautala was a politician with a chequered career and life marked by some highs and many lows.

The Indian National Lok Dal president and prominent Jat leader, who was sentenced to prison in connection with a teacher recruitment scam and a disproportionate assets case, died in Gurugram on Friday, days before his 90th birthday on January 1. The father was considered a messiah of farmers and the son could never reach those heights but was known for his sharp olitical acumen and wit despite not being well-educated.