CHANDIGARH: Former Haryana Chief Minister and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo Om Parkash Chautala on Friday campaigned for his party in the upcoming Assembly polls despite the fact that he is under notice from the Delhi High Court since he has been granted bail on health grounds.
The grand old man of Haryana politics clad in his traditional white kurta-pyjama ensemble and sporting a green ‘pagri’ went around in his white Mercedes. And Chautala, who had been in Jind since Thursday, visited the residences of his supporters in the small dusty town and also the party’s election office at Urban Estate on Friday. Several of Chautala’s followers and partymen touched his feet and garlanded him when he went to the residence of an INLD supporter in the city, where he also had breakfast.
The former Haryana Chief Minister also visited the residence of a BJP leader on Gohana road where two saffron party politicians announced that they were joining the INLD in Chautala’s presence. A party leader said,” Chautala sahib came here last night(on Thursday). He met party workers and this morning(on Friday) left for Uchana to take a round of the area.’’
The INLD is fighting a do-or-die battle for the October 15 Assembly polls in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) after languishing in political wilderness for the last ten years. From there, he left for Ucahana Kalan where his grandson Dushyant Chautla,26, is fighting his maiden Assembly election. Dushyant is already the youngest MP from the state following his triumph from Hisar in the recent Lok Sabha elections. However, since Chautala, who was the sitting MLA from Uchana Kalan, has been barred from contesting the polls following his conviction in JBT Teacher recruitment scam, the INLD has fielded Dudhyant.
Emotions ran high across Uchana Assembly segment on Friday when Chautala visited several villages there and “Chautala Zindabaad, INLD Zindabaad” slogans rent the air. “ I have sent my grandson Dushyant for your service. Dushyant who is contesting as the INLD candidate in my place from Uchana,” said Chautala, adding, the entire Haryana is celebrating the centenary birth anniversary of former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal. According to him, in the present scenario, Tau Devi Lal’s policies are more relevant and can work best for the development of Haryana. “The present government has failed miserably on each front,” the INLD chief said.
On October 1, the Delhi High Court had sought the response of the CBI and Chautala by October 10 on the plea for directions to the politician to immediately surrender.