O P Chautala passes away: Haryana declares 3-day state mourning; leaders recall ‘visionary’, ‘excellent administrator’

The Sirsa district administration was also directed to supervise the arrangements for the funeral.

Chautala, 89, was an Indian National Lok Dal leader who was Haryana chief minister for a record four times. He was the son of former deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal.

Leaders cutting across party lines expressed their condolences on Friday and recalled their personal as well as political association with Chautala.

“Om Prakash Chautala ji’s contributions to the development of Haryana and his commitment to the welfare of its people particularly ‘Kisan’ will always be remembered,” Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya said, adding that his demise was a great loss to the state and its people.

Dattatraya referred to Chautala, then the Haryana CM, meeting him when he was the Union urban development minister regarding the development of NCR. “During the meeting… Chautala ji, who was also a member, used to share his valuable insights and vision about the region’s all-round development,” the governor recalled.

“With Om Prakash Chautala’s passing, a significant chapter in Haryana’s political history has come to an end, and it is hard to fill the void left by his departure,” Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said. “His immense contribution to Haryana’s political landscape will always be remembered. Chautala ji’s personality was a reflection of simplicity and resilience. He was a visionary leader who initiated numerous schemes for rural development, education, and infrastructure improvement. His passing has left not just his family, but the entire state in deep sorrow,” Saini added.

Former Haryana CM and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said Chautala was “like an elder brother” to him. “I had strong relations both in the family and political sphere with Chaudhary Om Prakash Chautala. His sudden demise is extremely sad. Om Prakash Chautala ji had a long public life and contributed a lot to the development of Haryana during his tenure as chief minister. I pray to God to provide strength to his family members in this hour of grief,” Hooda said.

Haryana’s Energy, Transport, and Labour Minister Anil Vij said Chautala was “an excellent administrator” with “an extraordinary memory”. “Chautala Ji would always remember people he met and address them by name whenever he met them next. His contribution to politics was significant,” Vij said.

Several other politicians from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, among others, also expressed their condolences on Chautala’s demise.