MLA: Party explores legal options for Chautala as CM

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, November 12

Julana MLA Parminder Singh Dhull on Monday said the INLD leadership was exploring legal options to pave way for party supremo Om Prakash Chautala as the next Chief Minister.

A veteran party leader told The Tribune that the leadership was working to calm the political crisis in the party and strengthen its electoral base.

Dhull vehemently denied media reports that he was cozying up to ‘rebel’ leaders Ajay Chautala and his MP son Dushyant Chautala.

Both Chautala and Ajay are serving 10-year imprisonment in Tihar Jail in a teachers’ recruitment scam. They have been barred from contesting elections after conviction.

The Julan MLA said he had full faith in the command of Chautala and his meeting on Saturday with Dushyant was known to the party leadership.

Dhull said his father Dal Singh remained MLA for PEPSU and Haryana 1952 to 1977 and his family had an old association with the Chautala family.

“Some are meeting Dushyant and Ajay to diffuse the situation. There are several others working behind the scene to ensure unity in the party. We all are making efforts and have confidence that differences will be sorted out soon,” he said.

Dhull said the process of selection of the CM was the prerogative of the MLAs and the INLD-BSP alliance was confident of winning the next Assembly elections.

“There is no doubt that the INLD will fight the forthcoming elections under the command of Chautala. The party is unanimous on the present leadership and rift in the party is a temporary phase which will be over in the next few days,” said Dhull.

Meanwhile, Pehowa MLA Jaswinder Singh Sandhu has been abstaining from the public glare due to health-related issues.

Sandhu’s son Gagandeep Sandhu said the MLA was undergoing treatment for liver ailment at a private hospital in Mohali.

“Due to prior health requirements, my father is unable to attend party meetings for more than a week. My father considers Chautala as the leader and hopes that differences in the party will be over soon,” said Gagan, sarpanch of Gumthala Garhu village.