Abhay Singh Chautala (born 14 February 1963) is an Indian politician and Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly from Ellenabad.[2][3] He also served as the Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Legislative Assembly from the Indian National Lok Dal. He is the grandson of the former Deputy Prime Minister of India, Devi Lal[4][5] and the son of Haryana's former Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala.

Abhay Singh Chautala
Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
24 January 2010
ConstituencyEllenabad
Leader of Opposition,
Haryana Legislative Assembly
In office
October 2014 – March 2019[1]
Preceded byOm Prakash Chautala
Succeeded byBhupinder Singh Hooda
10th President of Indian Olympic Association
In office
5 December 2012 – 9 February 2014
Preceded byVijay Kumar Malhotra (as acting president)
Succeeded byNarayana Ramachandran
Personal details
Born (1963-02-14) 14 February 1963 (age 61)
Chautala, Punjab, India
(now in Haryana, India)
Political party Indian National Lok Dal
Spouse(s)
Supriya
(m. 1987; died 1988)

Kanta Chautala
RelationsChaudhary Devi Lal (grandfather)
Ajay Singh Chautala (brother)
Dushyant Chautala (nephew)
Children2
Parent
Residence(s)Sirsa, Haryana, India
OccupationPolitician

Early life and education edit

He was born in Chautala, Sirsa[6] and studied at the S.M. Hindu Senior Secondary School,[7] Sonepat.[8] He acquired his bachelor's degree in arts from Haryana agricultural university, Hisar.[9] A sports enthusiast, he has represented the state eight times in national volleyball championship and won numerous medals.[2]

Political career edit

Chautala embarked on his political journey during his younger school years. His official entrance into the political landscape started with his candidacy in the Chautala village Panchayat elections, where he assumed the role of Upsarpanch (Deputy Sarpanch). His notable ascent in the political arena came to the forefront in the year 2000 when he helped his father clinch victory from Haryana's Rori Assembly constituency under the banner of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).[7] During his tenure as the representative of his constituency, Abhay Singh Chautala oversaw the establishment of the Chaudhary Devi Lal Memorial College in Panniwala Mota, dedicated to engineering education.[citation needed]

In 2005, Chautala became the president of the District Council of Sirsa. Notably, in 2009, he emerged victorious in the Ellenabad Assembly constituency by-election after the arrest of his father, Om Prakash Chautala and his brother, Ajay Singh Chautala.

After securing re-election as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in 2014, Chautala assumed the role of the Leader of Opposition within the Haryana Legislative Assembly. During the 2014 Indian general elections, Chautala was responsible for guiding the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to secure 2 Lok Sabha seats amidst a formidable electoral surge favoring the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party wave.

On 27 January 2021, Abhay Singh Chautala had resigned as the only MLA from the party citing the BJP-led Union government’s refusal to accept farmers’ demands.[10][11] He was later re-elected from the Ellenabad constituency in a bypoll election on 2 November 2021.[12]

Sports development edit

Abhay Chautala has been the torch bearer of sports development in Haryana. He introduced a new policy which had significantly boosted sports and games in the state. The policy provides for sports quota reservations for government jobs and educational institutions. It provides for diet allowances for sport professionals and lucrative prizes for international medal winners. Abhay Chautala has set up rural stadiums and coaching institutions in various parts of the state. As a result of his successful endeavours in the field of sports he was elected for various leading positions at reputable sport organisations.

Positions held in sports organisations edit

Position Organization Year
President Haryana Olympic Association[13] 2016-till date

1999-2012

1991-1995

President Haryana State Athletic Association[14] 2013-till date

1996-2008

President Haryana State Boxing Association[15] 2000-till date
Chairman Indian Amateur Boxing Federation[16] 2012-2016
Patron in Chief All India Tug of War Federation 2008-2014
President Indian Olympic Association[17] 2012-2014
President Indian Boxing Federation[18] 2001-2012
Chef-De-Mission Indian Contingent, Guangzhou (China) Asian Games[19] 2010
Member Organizing Committee, Commonwealth Games-2010 Delhi[20] 2010
Vice-President Asian Boxing Federation[21] 2004-2011
Vice-President Indian Olympic Association[17] 1991-2012
President Haryana State Volleyball Association 1991-2000
Secretary General Haryana State Volleyball Association 1985-1991

Women empowerment programs edit

A believer of equal stature for women, Abhay has extensively worked to empower them. He propagated the right to education for girls with the launch of 'Shrimati Haraki Devi Memorial College for Women,[22]' where meritorious girls are provided fee concessions along with free lodging. He also introduced the scheme that provided free transportation facilities to girls travelling from nearby villages to educational institutions. It was his encouragement that led an activation participation of girls in sports, which was earlier dominated by men.

Personal life edit

Abhay Singh Chautala is the youngest son of politician Om Prakash Chautala and Sneh Lata.[2][7] He married Supriya in March 1987, who died on 11 November 1988 under suspicious circumstances at the age of 19.[23] Later, he married Kanta Chautala and has two sons, Karan Singh Chautala and Arjun Singh Chautala.[2][7]

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Abhay Chautala Resigns as Leader of Opposition in Haryana Assembly".
  2. ^ a b c d "Abhay Singh Chautala". haryanaassembly.gov.in. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  3. ^ PTI (2 November 2021). "Haryana bypolls: INLD's Abhay Chautala wins Ellenabad Assembly seat, BJP gives close fight". India Today. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  4. ^ "The Jat patriarch". Frontline. 11 May 2001.
  5. ^ Singh, Raj Pal (1988). Devi Lal, the man of the masses. Veenu Printers and Publications.
  6. ^ History of Sirsa Town. Atlantic Publishers & Distri. 1991.
  7. ^ a b c d "Abhay Chautala Biography - About Family, Political life, News and Updates". Elections in India.
  8. ^ "Sonipat".
  9. ^ "HAU | HISAR". www.hau.ac.in.
  10. ^ "INLD MLA Abhay Chautala resigns from Haryana Assembly over farm laws". The Indian Express. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Lone INLD MLA Abhay Singh Chautala resigns from Haryana Assembly over farm laws". The Hindu. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Haryana bypolls: INLD's Abhay Chautala wins Ellenabad Assembly seat, BJP gives close fight". India Today. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Haryana Olympic Association".
  14. ^ "Haryana Athletics". www.haryanaathletics.com.
  15. ^ "Haryana State Boxing Association (HSBA), Official Website". www.haryanaboxing.com.
  16. ^ "Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) Official Website". indiaboxing.in.
  17. ^ a b "Indian Olympic Association". www.olympic.ind.in.
  18. ^ "Boxing Federation of India". boxingfederation.in.
  19. ^ "Abhay Chautala named India's chef-de-mission for Asian Games".
  20. ^ "Organising Committee Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 formed | XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi". d2010.thecgf.com.
  21. ^ "ASBCNEWS".
  22. ^ "Gopi Chand Gehlot".
  23. ^ Mudgal, Vipu (15 December 1988). "Congress(I) raises doubts about Om Prakash Chautala's daughter-in-law Supriya's death". India Today. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
Civic offices
Preceded by President of Indian Olympic Association
2012–2014
Succeeded by