Former Deputy PM Devi Lal’s Grandson Quits BJP, Gets Haryana Poll Ticket From INLD

Chandigarh: In a setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party, Aditya Devi Lal, the grandson of former deputy prime minister Devi Lal, joined the Indian National Lok Dal on Sunday and was fielded from Dabwali for the October 5 Assembly polls in Haryana .

The 46-year-old leader after quitting the BJP joined the INLD at a rally of the party in Chautala village in Sirsa district in the presence of the party's senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala.

BJP loses Prominent Face In Sirsa

Aditya Devi Lal recently resigned as chairman of the Haryana Marketing Board and joined the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). His departure is a significant blow to the BJP in Sirsa district, coming less than a month before the elections and amid ongoing factional issues within the ruling party in the state.

Aditya Devi Lal is the second member of the Devi Lal family to leave the BJP within a week. Earlier, Ranjit Chautala (79), the state’s Energy and Jails Minister and a son of Devi Lal, also exited the ruling party.

Before joining the INLD, Aditya sought the blessings of his uncle and former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala at his residence.

‘Always Stood for People’, says Aditya Devi Lal

Addressing the rally, Aditya Devi Lal said he has always stood for the people and will continue to do so.

Abhay Singh Chautala, Devi Lal’s grandson and the son of former Chief Minister O.P. Chautala, praised Aditya for his commitment to public welfare and his focus on addressing issues of public interest. He criticized the BJP , calling its leaders "opportunists" who exploit people for their own gain.

Chautala expressed confidence that Aditya’s candidacy for the Dabwali assembly seat would secure a win for the INLD and predicted that the party would also achieve significant victories in other seats across Sirsa district.

The INLD is contesting the Haryana assembly elections in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which is fielding candidates for 37 of the 90 Assembly seats, while the remaining seats are allocated to the INLD.

Abhay Singh Chautala is seeking re-election from the Ellenabad seat in Sirsa district while his son Arjun Chautala has been fielded by INLD from the Rania segment in the district.

Polling for the 90-member Haryana Assembly will be held on October 5. Votes will be counted on October 8.