The infighting in Haryana’s principal opposition party—Indian National Lok Dal—seems to have reached a point of no return. Following the suspension of Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala and his younger brother Digvijay Chautala from the primary membership of INLD last week, the party’s executive committee on Thursday referred the issue to its disciplinary committee and asked it submit a report by October 25.
The INLD’s executive committee which met at Gurugram under its chief OP Chautala on Thursday discussed the issue of suspension of MP Dushyant and his younger brother. Leader of opposition and party’s senior leader Abhay Chautala, who is also younger son of OP Chautala and INLD’s MLAs, senior party leaders were present at the meeting.
“It has been decided to refer the case to party’s disciplinary committee, which will now submit its report by October 25. Till then, both Dushyant and Digvijay will remain suspended from the party,” said a party statement.
“Both of them had allegedly instigated those who tried to disrupt party’s Gohana rally on October 7 organized to mark the 105th birth anniversary of INLD’s founder and former deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal. They had allegedly colluded with the anti-party forces to create nuisance at Haryana’s biggest rally in Gohana,” the statement added.
Notably, a group of youths had allegedly indulged in hooting at the Gohana rally when Abhay Chautala was speaking, while there were cheers for Dushyant Chautala as he spoke.
Sources said that strict action is expected against both Dushyant and Digvijay, grandsons of OP Chautala on October 25 or after.
Both were suspended by senior Chautala last week for alleged indiscipline and their involvement in anti-party activities.
Speaking at the party’s executive committee meeting, OP Chautala on Thursday warned the party workers not to indulge in indiscipline.
Referring to the sloganeering in Gohana rally, he said that the hooliganism witnessed at the Gohana rally has hurt the party leaders and it was necessary to take strict action on the issue.
Strict action will be taken against the person found lacking discipline, irrespective of their position or stature in the party, he added.
The former Chief Minister Chautala had last week dissolved party’s youth and student wing led by Dushyant and Digvijay respectively. Both are sons of INLD's state secretary general Ajay Singh Chautala, elder son of OP Chautala.
A day before, Dushyant and Digvijay had met OP Chautala at his residence in New Delhi to give explanation on the issue.
Replying to suspension notice issued by the party, Dushyant Chautala had sought a time of 15 more days to give a detailed reply to the notice and prove his innocence.
his reply submitted to the party on Wednesday, he stated “I was extremely saddened and disappointed to receive the notice where I have been accused of such alleged activities which were detrimental to the interest of the INLD.”
The Hisar MP has also sought recordings and other evidences which caused his suspension from the party.
“On a personal level, let me repeat that I have every intention to remain a part of my INLD family and I am extremely excited about the positive future of the party headed by our Om Prakash Chautala ji,” he added in his reply.
Dushyant alongwith his brother Digvijay were suspended from the party on October 11 and were served with a notice, asking them to reply within a week.
The rift in Haryana’s influential Chautala family is seen as a “war of succession”.
Notably, former Chief Minister OP Chautala along with his elder son Ajay Chautala are currently serving 10-yearjail sentence after being convicted, in teacher recruitment scam in Haryana.
In their absence, Abhay Chautala is steering the party, which has been losing its sheen after being out of power since 2005.