In a setback for the BJP just weeks ahead of the polls, Aditya Chautala, who is the grandson of former Haryana Chief Minister Devi Lal, joined the INLD before the assembly elections.
Aditya had resigned as the Chairman of the HSAM Board after his name was excluded from the candidates' list. Several leaders including Haryana Energy Minister Ranjit Singh, Minister of State Bishamber Singh Balmiki, Ratia MLA Laxman Napa and Karan Dev Kamboj, resigned on Thursday after the BJP released the first list of 67 candidates for the Haryana polls.
The 46-year-old leader joined INLD at a rally in Chautala village in Sirsa district in the presence of the party's senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala on Sunday. He said that he would contest the assembly elections from the Dabwali seat.
With Aditya joining the INLD, the BJP lost its prominent face in Sirsa district and the second leader from the Devi Lal clan to exit the saffron fold within a week. Earlier, Haryana Energy and Jails Minister Ranjit Chautala, one of the sons of Devi Lal, also left the BJP.
He further said he always stood for the people and will continue to do so.
The INLD is contesting the Haryana assembly polls in alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with the Mayawati-led party contesting on 37 out of 90 Assembly seats, leaving the rest for its senior partner.
Aditya Chautala's Political Career
Aditya Chautala, who is the son of Chaudhary Devi Lal's youngest son Jagdish Chautala, joined the BJP in 2014.
He was made the the Chairman of the Haryana State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank in 2019.
In the 2019 assembly elections, he contested from Dabwali assembly seat, but lost against Congress candidate Amit Sihag. Sihag has been renominated by the Congress from the seat.
Polling for the 90-member Haryana Assembly will be held on October 5. Votes will be counted on October 8.