Former CM OM Prakash Chautala Passes Away : Om Prakash Chautala, the INLD Supremo and former Chief Minister of Haryana, has passed away at his residence in Gurgaon at the age of 89, following a cardiac arrest.

Born on 1 January 1935, Chautala was an influential Indian politician and a prominent leader of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). He was the son of Chaudhary Devi Lal, the 6th Deputy Prime Minister of India.

Chautala served as the 7th Chief Minister of Haryana, first taking office in December 1989, following his father’s appointment as Deputy Prime Minister. However, due to his failure to win a seat in the state assembly within six months, he was forced to resign in May 1990. He was later re-elected in a by-election and briefly served as Chief Minister again from 1990 to 1991, though both terms were short-lived.

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Chautala also holds the record for being the oldest prisoner in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, where he was locked up at the age of 87 before being released in 2020. Additionally, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of India’s Parliament) in 1987, serving until 1990.

He had been a member of both the NDA and the Third Front, a coalition of parties created in 2009 that were not affiliated with either the NDA or the Congress-led UPA.

He was found guilty and sentenced to ten years in 2013 for a scandal involving the appointment of junior basic teachers in Haryana between 1999-2000. He was freed from Tihar Jail in July 2021 after serving nine and a half years.

PM Modi, CM Saini And Others Offer Condolences On Om Prakash Chautala's Death

PM Narendra Modi also expressed his grief in a post on X, writing, "I am deeply saddened by the demise of former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala ji. He was active in state politics for many years and consistently worked to carry forward the legacy of Chaudhary Devi Lal ji. My deepest condolences to his family and supporters in this hour of grief. Om Shanti."

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expressed his sorrow on Twitter over the passing of INLD leader and former Haryana Chief Minister Chaudhary Om Prakash Chautala. He paid tribute to Chautala, highlighting his lifelong service to both the state and society, and called his death an immense and irreparable loss to both Haryana's politics and the nation as a whole.

On the passing of former Haryana CM and INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala, former Haryana CM and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed his grief, stating, "When Om Prakash ji was the Chief Minister, I was the Leader of Opposition. We shared a good relationship. He dedicated his life to serving the people and remained active until the end. It never seemed that he would leave us so suddenly. He was a good person and like an elder brother to me."

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his sorrow on Twitter, stating, "The news of the passing of former Haryana Chief Minister and senior leader Chaudhary Om Prakash Chautala is deeply saddening. He made significant contributions to the service of Haryana and the nation. In this time of grief, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters and pray for the peace of his soul."

N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, also paid tribute on X. He wrote, "I am deeply saddened by the demise of INLD Supremo and former Haryana Chief Minister, Shri Om Prakash Chautala Ji. A veteran leader and statesman, he devoted decades of his life to public service and shaped Haryana's political landscape. His contributions and legacy will always be remembered. I offer heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones, and supporters."