Chautala expels his jailed son from party

Jailed Haryana former chief minister O P Chautala on Wednesday expelled his elder son and former MP Ajay Chautala, who is serving a 10-year jail term in a corruption case with the father, from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).

The principal Opposition party in Haryana now appears headed for a split ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Both father and son are currently out on parole. Ajay has also been axed from the coveted post of the party general secretary for alleged anti-party activities.

The developments unfold weeks after the senior Chautala expelled both of Ajay' sons, Dushyanat and Digvijay, from the party, also for "anti-party activities".

Family feud over inheritance of the legacy of INLD founder and former deputy prime minister Chaudhary Devi Lal is believed to be the reason for turbulence within the party.

O P Chautala, it seems, is backing his younger son and Leader of the Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Abhay Chautala in the feud.

Ajay's two sons and Abhay have not been sharing a good rapport in the recent past.

Following Dushyant's and Digvijay's expulsion, Ajay has been training guns at his brother.

Out on parole, Ajay had called a party executive body for November 17 at Jind in Haryana, which the INLD termed unconstitutional, leading to his expulsion.

Ajay's two sons have also been accused of raising slogans at a recent rally in Chautala's presence.

Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal is attempting to mediate between the Chautala family members. INLD had severed ties with Akali Dal on the controversial SYL canal issue.

The INLD has been out of power in Haryana for nearly 15 years.