INLD feud hits dead end

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 13

Efforts for a rapprochement between Leader of Opposition Abhay Chautala and his elder brother Ajay Chautala in the family feud in the INLD triggered by the expulsion of Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala and his brother Digvijay Chautala seem to have met a dead end.

The Tribune has learnt that no fresh efforts are being made by former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal because his efforts before Diwali had failed to bear fruits.

Sources said that even the efforts initiated by some close relatives of the Chautalas and some senior party leaders had also been aborted, as these had failed to yield results.

Abhay, who had been maintaining silence on the issue ever since Ajay came out of Tihar Jail on November 5 and began a tour of the state, will address the press in Chandigarh on Wednesday.

“I will say whatever I have to speak on this issue in the press conference tomorrow,” said Abhay.

Earlier it was being said that the two brothers could meet Badal on Tuesday, but the sources ruled out this possibility.

“He (Badal) did take an initiative before Diwali. He met Ajay and his son Dushyant to discuss the issue, but it did not prove of much help. Now, the former Punjab CM has been caught in the affairs of his party, the SAD,” said the sources.

The sources said Kuldeep Nyol and Subhash Nyol, both uncles of the two brothers, also tried in vain to bring a rapprochement.

The sources said that relatives of Chautala family tried their best for a meeting between Ajay and Abhay at Sirsa on November 8, but it could not materialise.

The sources said that through their continued efforts, a meeting did materialise in Delhi on Sunday, but it could not be of much help because of “hardened attitude” of Ajay and his family.

Hisar mp meets ex-MLA Mange Ram 

Kurukshetra: Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala met four-time MLA from Jind Mange Ram Gupta on Tuesday. Dushyant avoided speaking to the media after the meeting at Gupta’s house in Jind. Gupta said it was a courtesy call and no serious political matter was discussed. TNS