Chandigarh, 20 December 2024: Om Prakash Chautala, president of the Indian National Lok Dal and five-time chief minister of Haryana, died Thursday in Gurugram. He was 89.
A party spokesperson confirmed Chautala suffered a cardiac arrest at his residence and was rushed to a hospital but could not be revived.
Chautala, a prominent figure in Haryana politics and the eldest son of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, played a pivotal role in shaping state and national politics over several decades. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini described his death as a significant loss, stating, “His contribution to the state’s politics will always be remembered.”
Born into a political family, Chautala left a lasting legacy through his leadership and his family’s continued involvement in public service. He is survived by three children: sons Abhay Singh Chautala and Ajay Singh Chautala, and daughter Sunita Chautala. Abhay, a former MLA from Ellenabad, also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Assembly between 2014 and 2019.
Continuing the family’s political tradition, Chautala’s grandson Dushyant Chautala currently serves as Haryana’s deputy chief minister. A former Lok Sabha member from Hisar, Dushyant has extended the family’s influence into contemporary state leadership.