Indian National Lok Dal chief Om Prakash Chautala on Thursday dissolved the party’s student and youth wings, days after a group of youths created ruckus at the Gohana rally attended by his son and grandsons. The INLD president also effected an organisational restructuring of the party.
The development has brought to the fore an apparent rift within the Chautala family as Abhay Singh Chautala, younger son of senior Chautala, was booed during the October 7 rally. In contrast, there were cheers when Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala, son of Ajay Singh Chautala, spoke at the event.
Mr. Ajay Chautala is the elder son of the INLD chief and his sons — Dushyant and Digvijay — head the party’ youth and student wings respectively.
By dissolving the wings, the 83-year-old INLD patriarch has thrown his weight behind his younger son, say political observers.
“Om Prakash Chautala, in his capacity as INLD’s national president, has dissolved the youth wing of the party and the national and State units of Indian National Students Organisation (INSO) — party’s student wing,” a party statement said.
“Both wings of the party were found to be lacking in discipline and commitment to the ideals of INLD. While the youth wing failed to play its role during the Gohana rally of October 7, the INSO was found indulging in blatant anti-party activities. It is also accused of entering into a conspiracy with anti-party forces to disrupt the Gohana rally and smear the name of INLD,” it said.
The development comes at a time when students’ union polls are taking place in the State after a gap of 22 years and the Lok Sabha elections are not far off.
Reacting to the development, Mr. Digvijay Chautala said the INSO cannot be dissolved by the INLD chief.
“Only Ajay Singh Chautala, who is the founder member of the INSO, or the body’s national executive, can dissolve the organisation. Though ideologically we are with the INLD, but the party cannot take a decision to dissolve INSO,” he said.