In the wake of a possible simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha election in Haryana, parties have begun to take stock and re-evaluate their strategies. In addition, there has been an upheaval in the state’s politics and the Chautala family is right in the middle of these discussions. Not only is Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala’s Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) on unsteady ground with alliance partner BJP, the Chautala camp is itself divided into four factions which are trying to make some headway with different parties.
BJP and Chaudhary Devi Lal’s family have a longstanding relationship. In the 1987 elections, the BJP had an alliance with the then Lok Dal. After this, in 1999, the BJP had an alliance with the Haryana Vikas Party, but after breaking the alliance with the HVIPA, entered an alliance with Om Prakash Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). In the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, this alliance won 10 seats. However, this alliance broke down in 2004. Now, Om Prakash’s grandson Dushyant is an ally of the alliance.
Om Prakash Chautala, the eldest son of Chaudhary Devi Lal and leads the Indian INLD while Dushyant’s father Ajay Chautala leads the JJP. Notably, the INLD and JJP are doing politics in the name of Chaudhary Devi Lal, who was a respected figurehead in the state. Ranjit Singh Chautala, Om Prakash’s brother is currently a Power Minister in the BJP-led state government who was given a berth despite being an independent MLA due to his vocal support for the BJP. Aaditya Chautala, the son of Jagdeep Chautala serves as BJP district president for Sirsa, contested the assembly polls in 2019 but did not survive the battle for the seat. Following new political developments in state politics, the BJP continues to strengthen both Ranjit and Aaditya in a bid to gain political mileage ahead of polls. It is pertinent to mention that after the Sirsa rally held on 18 June, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Ranjt, indicating his clearly increasing stature. The BJP has also been focusing a lot of resources on Aaditya who was appointed Chairman of the Haryana Agriculture and Marketing Board days ahead of the Sirsa rally. In a similar vein, he was appointed as the senior vice-chairman of the National Council of State Agricultural Marketing Board only three days after the rally.
Notably, a faction of the Sirsa BJP had demanded his removal but was instead met with Aaditya being rewarded with yet another portfolio. As for the Sirsa rally, Shah and other party leaders in attendance held back from criticising the INLD which came as a surprise to observers. It is being considered a strategic move in case the party may need the support of the INLD were it to fail to achieve a majority.