Om Prakash Chautala, Former Five-Time Haryana Chief Minister, Dies at 89

The veteran Indian National Lok Dal leader, known for his political influence and controversies, passed away following a cardiac arrest in Gurugram.

Om Prakash Chautala, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal, served as Haryana's chief minister for five terms between 1989 and 2005.
Chautala was convicted in two high-profile corruption cases, including a teacher recruitment scam in 2013 and a disproportionate assets case in 2022, making him the oldest prisoner in Tihar Jail at age 87.
He played a pivotal role in shaping Haryana's politics, founding the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in 1998 and leading it through its peak and subsequent decline.
Chautala's political career was marked by both achievements, such as financial reforms, and controversies, including allegations of misconduct during elections and governance issues.
The Haryana government has declared three days of state mourning, with his last rites to be conducted with state honors on December 21 in Sirsa.