INLD chief dissolves party youth & student wings

Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) president Om Prakash Chautala Thursday dissolved the party's youth and student wings along with effecting organisational restructuring of the party, hinting at an apparent rift within the Chautala family.

"Both wings of the party were found to be lacking in discipline and commitment to the ideals of INLD. While the youth wing failed to play its role during the Gohana rally of October 7, the Indian National Students Organisation (INSO) was found indulging in blatant anti-party activities," a party statement said.

"It is also accused of entering into a conspiracy with anti-party forces to disrupt the Gohana rally and smear the name of INLD," it said.

"Thus, Chautala in his capacity as INLD's national president, has dissolved the youth wing of the party and the national and state units of INSO--party's student wing," the statement said.

Notably, the development has brought to the fore the rift between Leader of Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala and his nephews Dushyant and Digvijay.

While Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala was the party's youth wing leader, Digvijay Chautala headed the INSO. Both are sons of INLD's state secretary general Ajay Singh Chautala, Abhay's elder brother.

Senior Chautala's action came days aftera group of youths allegedly indulged in hooting in the Gohana rally on October 7 when the Leader of Opposition was speaking, while there were cheers for Dushyant Chautala as he spoke.

Leader of Opposition Abhay Singh is the younger son of Om Prakash Chautala.

The development also comes at a time when student union polls are taking place in the state after a gap of 22 years and the next Lok Sabha elections are not far off.