New `Lals' on the block in Haryana

Chandigarh, March 27 (IANS) Haryana, the land famous for its `Lals' and their politics, is now witnessing the electoral fight of the third and fourth generations of their political families. Second generation leaders from newer political families too are in the fray for the 10 Lok Sabha seats from the state.

Through the 1970s, 80s and 90s, Haryana's politics revolved around the three `Lals' - Devi Lal, Bansi Lal and Bhajan Lal. All three of them became chief ministers of the state more than once.

Devi Lal, who went on to become deputy prime minister of the country and was considered one of the most towering Jat leaders in the state, has his fourth generation entering the fray.

His great-grandson, Dushyant Chautala, 26, is contesting for the Hisar Lok Sabha seat in the April 10 Lok Sabha polls in Haryana.

The young Chautala, in his first electoral outing, is challenging sitting MP and Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) president Kuldeep Bishnoi, son of former chief minister and prominent non-Jat leader Bhajan Lal, on the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) ticket. Bishnoi is a second generation leader in his family. His elder brother, Chander Mohan, remained deputy chief minister (2005 to 2008).

Dushyant is the grandson of former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala and son of INLD leader Ajay Chautala. Both his father and grandfather are in Tihar jail, serving a 10-year term, following their conviction in a teachers' recruitment scam. His uncle, Abhay Chautala, is leading the INLD campaign in this election.

Former chief minister Bansi Lal's granddaughter Shruti Chaudhary, a third generation leader, is seeking re-election to the Bhiwani-Mahendergarh Lok Sabha seat. She is the daughter of Haryana's excise and taxation minister Kiran Chaudhary. Shruti was elected to the seat in 2009.

Billionaire industrialist Naveen Jindal is again in the fray for the Kurukshetra seat. A sitting Congress MP, he is the son of Haryana minister Savitri Jindal, officially the richest woman in the country as she lords over the huge Jindal empire as its chairperson. Jindal's father, industrialist O.P. Jindal, was a minister in the Hooda government.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's son, Deepender Singh Hooda, is seeking re-election from his home turf Rohtak. Deepender is himself not campaigning these days owing to a severe back problem due to which doctors have advised him complete bed-rest. His campaign is being handled by his chief minister father, his mother and wife Shweta.

Deepender is the grandson of former minister Chaudhary Ranbir Singh, father of Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Some other candidates in the fray this time too have links to politicians in their respective families.