New Delhi: Om Prakash Chautala passed away in Gurugram due to a cardiac arrest. A towering figure in Haryana politics, he served as the Chief Minister of Haryana five times and was the leader of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). Over a political career spanning decades, Chautala held the position of a seven-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).He was deeply influenced by his father, Chaudhary Devi Lal, who was a prominent leader, having served as the Deputy Prime Minister of India and also as the Chief Minister of Haryana. Chautalas tenure as a political leader was marked by both significant influence and controversy, including numerous allegations of corruption.He wasn a prominent political figure from Haryana. He served as the Chief Minister of Haryana for five non-consecutive terms. His first tenure began in December 1989, when he succeeded his father, Chaudhary Devi Lal, who had been appointed Deputy Prime Minister. However, Chautala stepped down in May 1990 after failing to secure a legislative assembly seat within the mandatory six-month period.Chautala returned to power briefly in 1990 and 1991, each tenure lasting only a few days. In 1996, after securing a seat in the Haryana legislative assembly, he became the Leader of the Opposition when the Haryana Vikas Party formed the government. That same year, his father founded the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). With the support of the BJP, Chautala became the Chief Minister of Haryana again, holding office from July 1999 to March 2005.Chautalas political career was marked by both influence and controversy. He played a significant role in national politics, participating in various coalitions, including the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Third Front. However, his tenure as Chief Minister was marred by scandals, including the illegal recruitment of over 3,200 junior basic teachers in 1999-2000. In 2013, Chautala and his son, Ajay Singh Chautala, were convicted for these illegal appointments and sentenced to ten years in prison.
