Fri Dec 20 09:48:26 UTC 2024: ## Veteran Haryana Leader Om Prakash Chautala Passes Away at 89

**Gurugram, Haryana –** Former Haryana Chief Minister and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo Om Prakash Chautala passed away at the age of 89 on December 20, 2024. He suffered a cardiac arrest at his Gurugram residence and was pronounced dead at Medanta hospital.

Chautala, a prominent figure in Haryana’s political landscape for decades, hailed from a prominent political family. The son of former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal, he served as Chief Minister of Haryana on five separate occasions, beginning in December 1989. His political career spanned several parties, including the Janata Dal and the INLD, which he led.

His legacy includes significant contributions to Haryana’s political dynamics and a long tenure in the state’s leadership. He is survived by his sons, Abhay Singh Chautala and Ajay Singh Chautala, and his grandson, Dushyant Chautala, who also served as Haryana’s Deputy Chief Minister.

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed grief on X (formerly Twitter), and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. Opposition leaders, including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, also offered their condolences.

Chautala’s life was marked not only by political achievements but also by legal challenges. In 2013, he was convicted in a teacher recruitment scam and served time in prison before his release in 2021. Despite his legal battles, he remained a significant force in Haryana politics until his passing. The INLD, currently outside of power, had previously been an ally of the BJP.

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