Succession battle between Devi Lal's sons creates major crisis in Haryana, Lok Dal

Ranjit Singh (left) and Om Prakash ChautalaHaryana's 74-year-old Chief Minister Devi Lal resembles a modern-day Charlemagne. Basking in his new-found importance as the opposition's bouncer - who humbled stalwarts like H.N. Bahuguna and Chandra Shekhar - Devi Lal failed to see the waves of dissidence lapping about his feet in his home state. He imperiously ordered the tide to recede and it didn't. Ultimately Devi Lal had to retreat, his image a little bedraggled.The Lok Dal supremo must have realised, as others did, that the waves around him were created by his impatient, battling sons, Om Prakash Chautala, 52, and Ranjit Singh, 43, both eager to inherit their father's mantle. Disgusted, the old chaudhary threatened to resign as chief minister last fortnight, only to hastily retract after learning that the state unit of the Lok Dal would instantly split into two groups if the succession question was thrown open. The Janata Dal President V.P. Singh, who drove down to Chandigarh to reason with Devi Lal, finally vetoed the resignation move. This gave the chief minister a face-saving device, and at the same time, saved Haryana from the likely imposition of President's Rule.The resignation drama in Chandigarh highlighted Devi Lal's dilemma in relation to his sons, whose no-holds-barred campaign has riven the state Lok Dal, the ministry and the entire bureaucracy into Chautala and Ranjit Singh camps. Each faction remains busy checkmating the moves of the other. By threatening to resign, Devi Lal had tried to break out of the vicious circle - only to discover that the resultant chaos would invite the attention of Congress(I) trouble-makers like Bhajan Lal and ultimately President's Rule. This made him stay his resignation but in no way alleviated the succession problem.Like a Haryanvi version of the television serial Khandaan, the suspense-filled resignation drama involved all three leading members of the state's current first family - Devi Lal, Chautala and Ranjit Singh. Charges of nepotism and corruption involved Home Minister Sampat Singh who is Chautala's trusted lieutenant in a scandal surrounding the recruitment of about 3,500 constables for the Haryana Police.A triumphant Devi Lal had just returned to Chandigarh after midwifing the birth of the Janata Dal. In Bangalore, he had intentionally snubbed Sampat Singh for packing the state police force with his relatives and supporters in contravention of the chief minister's advice to recruit constables on the basis of merit and from all the districts and tehsils. "I had told the DG of police not to heed Sampat Singh's instructions (on recruitment)," Devi Lal admitted. Fearing he would be sacked, Sampat Singh sent a resignation letter, assuring Devi Lal that he would stay as loyal to him as "a fifth son".The resignation drama highlighted Devi Lal's dilemma in relation to his sons, whose no-holds-barred campaign has riven the state Lok Dal into Chautala and Ranjit Singh camps.Haryana officials say that Devi Lal had in fact asked the home minister to resign following widespread complaints from Lok Dal MLAs that only those who had been recommended by Sampat Singh or paid up to Rs 20,000, were recruited. Even some who had paid the money were not recruited, and the MLAs who had recommended them threatened to revolt. To quell their rebellion, Devi Lal doubled the number of vacancies and ordered regularisation of even those recruits who had not met the stringent physical standards.The fact that bribes had been paid for the police jobs came to light after the all-powerful officer on special duty in the chief minister's secretariat, Dr K.V. Singh, called for the list of recruited constables. He was intrigued by the names of some Bishnois, members of the community to which former chief minister Bhajan Lal belongs. Enquiries revealed that these persons had, in the words of a police official, "paid money to the district superintendents of police, MLAs or ministers to ensure selection". So widespread were rumours of money changing hands, that two SPs in a district selection board orally complained to the Director-General of Police S.S. Brar that the dig heading the board had taken bribes. Moreover, it was common knowledge that Sampat Singh called district SPs to select his nominees even if standards had to be relaxed.These reports angered the chief minister who admitted to INDIA TODAY that Sampat Singh had been guilty of favouritism in the recruitment of six constables from among his in-laws and 48 others.This kind of nepotism is not uncommon in Haryana. But it became political dynamite because the man who uncovered the fraud, K.V. Singh, is a close associate of Ranjit Singh, while the victim of the disclosure, Sampat Singh, owes allegiance to Chautala. Sampat Singh's resignation angered Chautala so much that he called his father from Bombay at around 10.25 on the night of October 15 and threatened a revolt in the ministry. Intelligence and political sources confirm that he threatened Devi Lal that one minister and one MLA would resign every day if Sampat Singh was eased out. At the crack of dawn the next morning, Devi Lal called the correspondent of All India Radio and announced that he would submit his resignation to the governor that evening. AIR news bulletins don't have much credibility in opposition-ruled Haryana, but the news of Devi Lal's intended resignation galvanised the Lok Dal into action. Fearing that Chautala would try to forcibly fill the vacuum created by Devi Lal's resignation, Ranjit Singh and his followers got into the act. From Delhi's Haryana Bhawan, Ranjit Singh's followers led by Ran Singh Mann phoned opposition stalwarts V.P. Singh, Biju Patnaik and George Fernandes and asked them to dissuade Devi Lal from resigning the chief ministership, Biju Patnaik called Devi Lal thrice, so did Fernandes. After instructing Devi Lal to sit tight, V.P. Singh drovedown to Chandigarh and after a long discussion with the Haryana strongman, vetoed his resignation. Devi Lal did not forward Sampat Singh's resignation to the governor.Obviously, Chautala had won his point. Now he and Devi Lal are maintaining a stoic silence on the events leading to the resignation. It does not serve the purpose of the chief minister and his elder son to give credence to or confirm rumours of their confrontation-the threatened revolt by Chautala and Devi Lal's backing down. So Chautala denies he called Devi Lal or threatened a revolt. In fact he says Devi Lal had called him and asked him to return at once to Chandigarh. Devi Lal denies any call was made, but his advisers and staff who were present that day, testify that he did talk on the phone with his elder son. Hours later, he impetuously announced his resignation.For purposes of public consumption, both Chautala and Ranjit Singh now do not criticise one another. After denying any rift in the family, Ranjit Singh evaded answers to all questions about differences with his elder brother. Chautala, a more wily politician, even waxed eloquent about the warmth of his relationship with his brother. But this show of affection did not prevent Chautala's aides from seeking out journalists later to fill them in about Ranjit Singh's misdeeds. And Ranjit Singh's advisers squarely blame Chautala for triggering off the recent events which nearly toppled the Lok Dal Government. Chautala had threatened a revolt, and Devi Lal devised the resignation strategem to divert attention from the real problem, Ranjit's followers say.Most Lok Dal workers have no doubt that the ministry came very close to being toppled. They say that the Union Home Ministry got into action as soon as Devi Lal's intention to resign was announced. One senior minister maintains that the Congress(I) approached party chief Bahuguna and asked him to split the Haryana Lok Dal legislature party to create a scenario where President's Rule could be imposed. According to Devi Lal, his arch enemy Bhajan Lal even cut short a scheduled visit to the Andamans upon hearing the resignation flash.But eventually it was Devi Lal's image which suffered. Residents of Chandigarh, who have seen the sons of former chief ministers Partap Singh Kairon and Bansi Lal ruling the roost, now add Devi Lal's name to the list of politicians victimised by ambitious, unscrupulous offspring. "The chief minister is a prisoner of his sons," said a senior bureaucrat not unkindly disposed to Devi Lal. The chief minister started receiving letters from admirers and well-wishers throughout the state, warning him about people who - as one letter puts it - "want to wrest power before their time". The obvious reference was to Chautala who is the more aggressive and machiavellian of the two contenders. So when Devi Lal confided to INDIA TODAY that he had in fact planned to appoint Industry Minister Kripa Ram Punia as chief minister (see interview), he was also sending a message to his sons not to take succession for granted.Devi Lal may not have realised before this episode, that though the party is united behind him, it will not unquestioningly accept anyone he nominates as his successor," says Mool Chand Jain, one of the kisan leader's closest advisers. This view is generally accepted by most partymen. The succession battle has become so bitter that many persons in the Ranjit Singh camp will never accept Chautala and vice versa. And notwithstanding anything Devi Lal may say, the caste-conscious Jat MLAs of Haryana will never accept a Harijan leader like Punia.When Devi Lal said he planned to appoint Kripa Ram Punia as chief minister, he was sending a message to his sons not to take succession for granted.Currently, Ranjit Singh commands the following of about 24 MLAs and at least four senior ministers whereas the irascible Chautala can count on the support of about 18 MLAs according to one estimate. Any leadership contest in the future will therefore see Chautala ranged directly against Ranjit Singh or Ranjit Singh's possible nominees - Punia and Irrigation Minister Veerender Singh. But till that happens, the two brothers play a big role in helping to run the state administration. "Devi Lal is so busy playing Jaya Prakash Narayan for opposition unity that he has no time for administration," lamented an official.Advisers like Mool Chand Jain say they have warned Devi Lal more than once about Chautala's blatant interference in the administration. Chautala denies he interferes, but he openly contends it is his right as an elected representative to take people's problems to the Government and its bureaucrats, even to submit lists for police recruitment if he wants. But he did not submit any lists to district SPs. "What's the fun of living if Chautala's name does not cause a stir," Chautala laughs. "Only that person will be criticised who can benefit people or harm them. If I help someone, another's interests are bound to be hurt, maybe my brother's. That cannot be helped." Chautala insists he does not share power with his father, but shoulders most of Devi Lal's burden of dealing with the public "since I am more adept at lying".That, say his critics, is an art form for him, along with his considerable oratorical skills and organising ability. Compared to him, Ranjit Singh is quieter, more affable and more educated. But of the two, Chautala has more fire in his guts, a greater ambition to run things. This is something Devi Lal half admires and half resents. Chautala is like a skittish racehorse, champing at the bit, as Devi Lal discovered to his dismay last fortnight - and will probably keep discovering during his remaining term as chief minister.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 15, 1988 00:00 IST--- ENDS ---

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Succession battle between Devi Lal's sons creates major crisis in Haryana, Lok Dal

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