A day after the friction in the Chautala clan over leadership came to the fore, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on Friday declared that anyone violating party discipline would face action.
Playing down the dissolution of INLD’s youth and students’ wings headed by his nephews Dushyant Chautala and Digvijay Chautala, the leader of opposition Abhay Singh Chautala on Friday denied any differences with the duo but said discipline was supreme in the party.
“There are no differences with Dushyant (and Digvijay), they are our children. However, discipline is our party’s biggest strength. If any person violates that, party will take action,” Abhay said while justifying the action taken against two wings headed by the two sons of his elder brother, Ajay Singh Chautala, who is serving jail term in a recruitment scam.
Addressing a Press conference at his home in Chandigarh, Abhay said he had no knowledge whether Dushyant, INLD’s Lok Sabha member from Hisar and his younger brother Digvijay have been suspended from the party.
Justifying the INLD national president and his father Om Prakash Chautala’s decision to dissolve the youth and student wings of the party, Abhay said the two wings were asked to ensure a smooth conduct of the party rally in Gohana on Sunday. “When they failed, Chautala Sahab took the step.”
On Digvijay’s claim that only Indian National Students Organisation (INSO) founder and his father Ajay Singh Chautala could dissolve the wing, Abhay said INSO is a part of the party and INLD president Chautala has the authority to dissolve it. “Chautala Sahab is fully authorised to take any decision in this regard. Now, who is saying what, does not matter,” he said.
Asked about the INLD chief also effecting a restructuring in the party, Abhay said party leaders at a meeting on 3 October in Gurgaon authorised O P Chautala to carry out changes in the organisation.
“It is for him (Chautala) to see what task he has to entrust to whom in the party organisation and who has to be relieved of what duty. Those who worked hard, they were again entrusted with various responsibilities and those who failed to perform…they were asked to give chance to others,” Abhay said.
Meanwhile, Chautala’s grandson and INSO chief Digvijay Singh Chautala has refused to accept the decision taken by his grandfather to dissolve the organisation. “INSO will continue working till I get any signal from my father, Ajay Singh Chautala,” he said.
Confirming the rift within the Chautala family, Dushyant and Digvijay’s supporters have been making the case for declaring Dushyant as the party’s CM face ahead of Abhay who otherwise remains the sole choice in absence Chautala senior and Ajay, both serving jail terms in a recruitment scam.
The INLD had to suffer embarrassment on Sunday when a group of youths allegedly indulged in hooting in party’s Gohana rally on October 7 when Abhay was speaking, while there were cheers for Dushyant as he spoke.