Former Haryana Minister's Controversial Remarks Ignite Political Debate
Former Haryana power minister Ranjit Singh Chautala has stirred significant controversy with his pointed remarks targeting senior leader Prof Sampat Singh, who currently serves as the national patron of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). The comments have triggered fresh debate within Haryana's political circles, particularly within the INLD, as the party continues efforts to consolidate its leadership ahead of upcoming political challenges.
"Filling Hookahs" to Ministerial Position: Chautala's Anecdote
Addressing a public gathering in Kirdhan village of Bhattu in Fatehabad district, Ranjit Chautala—younger brother of former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala—claimed that Prof Sampat Singh was once appointed to "fill hookahs" but was later elevated to the post of minister by former deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal. "I am not against Prof Sampat Singh," Ranjit stated while recounting an old anecdote involving local leaders from Bhattu who recommended Prof Sampat to Chaudhary Devi Lal.
"He was hired to fill hookahs, but Chaudhary Devi Lal made him a minister," he remarked, adding that Prof Sampat Singh remained away from active politics for a long time before recently returning to the INLD fold. Prof. Sampat Singh rejoined the INLD on November 5 after leaving the Congress party. On that same day, INLD national president Abhay Singh Chautala appointed him as the party's national patron, a move that has now become the subject of renewed scrutiny following Ranjit Chautala's comments.
References to Meham Incident and Family Feud
Ranjit Chautala also invoked the controversial Meham episode during his address, describing it as a definitive turning point in Haryana's political history. Referring to internal family rivalries within the Chautala political dynasty, he revealed that the dispute over the chief minister's post between him and his brother Om Prakash Chautala had the support of more than 50 MLAs in his favor, compared to just 15 backing his brother.
However, he acknowledged that it was ultimately a family decision that led to Om Prakash becoming the chief minister, while he himself joined the cabinet. He alleged that the violence during the Meham incident had fundamentally altered Haryana's political landscape, claiming that despite earlier electoral successes, Chaudhary Devi Lal subsequently faced significant electoral defeats, including losses in the Lok Sabha polls that reshaped the state's political dynamics.
Remarks on Political Alignments and Coalition Politics
Touching upon earlier political developments in Haryana, Ranjit Chautala discussed his own political journey, noting that he had won from Rania as an Independent candidate while extending support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He claimed that if he did not align with the BJP, other leaders would have done so instead, emphasizing that numbers were crucial to government formation during that period.
He also referred to the BJP-Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) coalition government that governed Haryana, mentioning that Dushyant Chautala served as deputy chief minister during the alliance period, while he himself held the important power and jail portfolios in the state cabinet. These remarks provide insight into the complex web of political alliances and family dynamics that continue to shape Haryana's political landscape.
The controversy surrounding Ranjit Chautala's comments comes at a sensitive time for the INLD, which has been working to strengthen its organizational structure and leadership ahead of future electoral battles. The public airing of historical anecdotes and internal disagreements highlights the ongoing challenges facing regional political parties as they navigate changing political realities and internal dynamics.
