Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly slammed dynastic politics and promised to create more opportunities for the common youth. But in real politick, his party BJP has not only allowed but encouraged dynastic politics to flourish. Haryana is a classic example of how the dynasts have continued to rule the roost.
Political Dynasts Of Haryana
The politics of Haryana has been dominated by three ‘lals’- Devi Lal, Bhajan Lal and Bansi Lal for decades. All these three dynasties are still important and their scions are active, some are contesting Haryana Assembly Election 2024.
Devi Lal: Jat Patriarch
The strongest of all these three dynasts was Devi Lal, the Jat patriarch who was the Chief Minister for two terms, an MLA for eight terms, an MP for two terms and Deputy Prime Minister from 1989 to 90 and 1990 to 1991. As he was called affectionately, all four sons of ‘Tau’ and son of his elder brother Sahid Ram Sihag are contesting the Haryana Election. They are fighting the elections under warring parties – Indian National Lok Dal led by Devi Lal’s son Abhay Chautala and Jannayak Janata Party, led by big great grandson Dushyant Chautala.
Abhay Chautala, the grandson of Devi Lal, is the son of Om Prakash Chautala, he is contesting from Ellenabad on an INLD ticket. His son Arjun Chautala is making his political debut from Rania. Devi Lal’s other grandson, Aditya Sihag, the son of Jagdish Chander is in the fray from Dabwali.
Congress has fielded Amit Sihag, the son of Devi Lal’s nephew Kamalveer Singh, from Dabwali. Sunaina Chautala, the daughter-in-law of Devi Lal’s eldest son Partap Singh Chautala, is fighting the election from Fatehabad on an INLD ticket.
Devi Lal’s great-grandson and former Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana is contesting the assembly election from Uchan Kalan on a JJP ticket, his brother Digvijay from Dabwali. These two ‘lals’ are fighting against the other two ‘lals’ from different parties.
Bhajan Lal: Three Scions From Three Parties
Another dynast who dominated Haryana was Bhajan Lal. He is infamous for changing the side along with his entire cabinet when his Janata Party government became the Congress government overnight.
Three members of his family are contesting the Haryana Assembly Election 2024. While his eldest son Chander Mohan, a three-time MLA from Kalka and a former Deputy Chief Minister, is in the fray as a Congress candidate from Panchkula, grandson Bhavya Bishnoi is contesting as a BJP candidate from Adampur, a seat represented by his father Kuldeep four times. Besides, Bhajan Lal’s nephew Dura Ram is also fighting the polls on a BJP ticket from Fatehabad.
Bansi Lal: Family Members At Crossroads
Bansi Lal was the other dynast, who dominated Haryana politics. His granddaughter Shruti Choudhry is contesting the election from Tosham as a BJP candidate. She is pitted against her cousin Anirudh Chaudhary who is in the fray as a Congress candidate. While Shruti is the daughter of Bansi Lal’s younger son Surender Singh, Anirudh is the son of his eldest son Ranbir Mahendra. Earlier, her mother and former Congress MLA Kiran Choudhry represented Tosham in the past. She is currently the BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP.
The scions of these dynasts have fought against each other too. Om Prakash Chautala fought against his brother Ranjit, then a Congress candidate. He contested against him in Rori in 2000 and defeated him. Similarly, Ajay Chautala, Dushyant’s father, contested against his cousin Ravi Chautala, in 2009 as an Independent.
Similarly, Surender Singh fought against his brother Ranbir Mahendra from the Congress from Bhiwani as the Haryana Vikas Party’s candidate. Ajay Chautala was also in the fray as the INLD nominee. Surender won, Ajay came second and Ranbir finished third.
