Abhay Singh Chautala
Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 24 January 2010
Constituency	Ellenabad
Leader of Opposition, Haryana Legislative Assembly
In office October 2014 – March 2019[1]
Preceded by	Om Prakash Chautala
Succeeded by	Bhupinder Singh Hooda
10th President of Indian Olympic Association
In office 5 December 2012 – 9 February 2014
Preceded by	Vijay Kumar Malhotra (as acting president)
Succeeded by	Narayana Ramachandran
Personal details
Born	(1963-02-14) 14 February 1963 Chautala, Punjab, India (now in Haryana, India)
Political party	Indian National Lok Dal
Spouse(s)	Supriya ​ ​ (m. 1987; died 1988)​ Kanta Chautala
Relations	Chaudhary Devi Lal (grandfather) Ajay Singh Chautala (brother) Dushyant Chautala (nephew)
Children	2
Parent	Om Prakash Chautala (father)
Residence(s)	Sirsa, Haryana, India
Occupation	Politician

Abhay Singh Chautala (born 14 February 1963) is an Indian politician and Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly from the Ellenabad (Vidhan Sabha constituency).^[2][3] He also served as the Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Legislative Assembly under 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.

Early life and education

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

Chautala embarked on his political journey during his younger school years. His official entrance into the political landscape commenced 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 clinched victory from Haryana's Rori Assembly constituency under the banner of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). Notably, his victory was distinguished by an unprecedented number of votes, propelling him into the political limelight and solidifying his presence as a promising leader within the state of Haryana.^[7]

During his tenure as the representative of his constituency, Abhay Singh Chautala fulfilled a notable commitment by overseeing the establishment of the Jananayak Chaudhary Devi Lal Memorial College in Panniwala Mota, dedicated to engineering education. This initiative underscored his dedication to fostering educational opportunities within the region he served.

In 2005, Chautala attained the presidency of the Zila Parishad in Sirsa, a position he presently holds. His leadership within this administrative body has been characterized by a focus on local governance initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of the local populace. His electoral triumphs reflected his enduring popularity and support among the electorate. Notably, in 2009, he emerged victorious in the Ellenabad Assembly constituency by-election, further cementing his position as a representative of the people.

After securing re-election as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in 2014, Chautala assumed the pivotal role of the Leader of Opposition within the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. In this capacity, he emerged as a vocal proponent for constructive dialogue and legislative accountability within the state's political framework.

During the 2014 Indian general elections, Chautala garnered acclaim for his adept leadership and organisational skills, guiding the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to secure 2 parliamentary 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

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

Women empowerment programs

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

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

• Abhay Singh Chautala on Twitter

References