Under fire from his elder brother Ajay Chautala and his family members amid the ongoing family feud, Leader of opposition in Haryana Assembly and INLD’s senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala on Wednesday hit back saying that Ajay and his family are playing in the hands of those who want to weaken the party.
“Ajay Chautala and his family never spoke anything against the BJP and Congress in the past several days. They are playing in the hands of those who want to weaken the INLD,” said Abhay Chautala while talking to the mediapersons here.
Slamming his elder brother and responding to his allegations, Abhay said, “It is said that my elder brother called me Duryodhan and Jayachand. It is the same brother to whom I have given political power.”
Abhay Chautala attacked his elder brother for the first time. He was flanked by nine of his party MLAs, two MPs, besides state unit president Ashok Arora and other state unit leaders here.
“I had met him (Ajay) and expressed my disappointment over his comments. After the meeting, I thought that things have resolved but it was further intensified,” said Abhay while speaking about the ongoing family feud.
Responding to the questions raised on his political experience by his detractors, Abhay said, “Ajay is two years elder to me. He was active in Rajasthan politics. But I have been active in Haryana politics.”
Highlighting various victories in elections under his leadership, Abhay claimed that the day INLD chief OP Chautala and Ajay Chautala went to jail in 2013, I was given responsibility of the party. I have fulfilled my responsibility honestly in the past four years, he added.
“It was the situation that compelled me to take charge of the party in 2013… I was never interested in any keen position but only to strengthen the party as its worker,” Abhay said.
Responding to the allegations of his nephew Dushyant Chautala, Abhay further said that I have fulfilled my responsibility of raising the issues of people of Haryana in the Vidhan Sabha
Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala had on Saturday made a veiled attack on Abhay Chautala, suggesting he is not doing enough as Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly.
Dushyant had said that it is saddening to note that state-related issues like student elections which we raised through the media were not taken up in the Vidhan Sabha.
On allegations that he has humiliated the party workers, Abhay Chautala said, “In the absence of OP Chautala, I have made this party strong. After OP Chautala and Ajay were convicted, there were concerns how this party will function… But today, the party is in a strong position and has made an alliance with BSP to contest next year’s election.”
When asked who will be the Chief Ministerial candidate of INLD-BSP combine, the Leader of opposition said that whoever OP Chautala chooses as CM’s face, it will be accepted.
My aim is to defeat the BJP and Congress in the polls, he added.
Abhay also claimed he never saw himself as the party’s Chief Ministerial candidate.
“I have always said that OP Chautala will be our CM and if there will be any legal trouble, we will sit together and decide,” he added
Reacting sharply to the comments of Ajay’s wife and Dabwali MLA Naina Chautala that some 15-odd people have infested the INLD like termites and are eating it, Abhay said that not 15 people but it is those who are in the party for around four years that are acting as termites.
Taking a dig at his nephews Dushyant and Digvijay, Abhay also said, “Everyone knows who has experience of four years and forty years in this party.”
In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Dushyant had successfully contested from Hisar seat and became the youngest MP at 27.
On SAD patron and former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s intervention to resolve the Chautala family feud, Abhay said that I had met Badal Sahab and I had told him that his directions will be obeyed.
“Badal Sahab had asked me reasons behind the current developments in the party and also, asked me if I am ready to sacrifice,” Abhay said while adding, “I have told him that I will obey his decision.”
Asked if he still hoped to avoid a possible split in the party and to reach a patch-up with Ajay Chautala, he said, “I authorise anyone on my behalf who can do so because there is no grudge from my side. Had it been so, I would have drawn the line 20 years ago.”
When asked about expulsion of his brother and nephews from the party, Ajay said that the decision regarding the organization is taken by INLD chief OP Chautala and party state chief Ashok Arora. They decide who will remain in the party, he added.
He also announced that the party will begin “Adhikaar Yatra” on December 1 from Kurukshetra to press for their demand of construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.