Post Independence
After independence, he emerged as a popular leader of farmers in India and Devi Lal started a farmer's movement and was arrested along with his 500 workers. After some time, then Chief Minister, Gopi Chand Bhargava, made an agreement and the Muzzara Act was amended. He was elected a member of the Punjab Assembly in 1952 and President of the Punjab Congress in 1956.
He played an active and decisive role in the formation of Haryana as a separate state. In 1958 he was elected from Sirsa. In 1971 he left Congress and in 1974 successfully contested against it in the Rori constituency. In 1975 Indira Gandhi declared emergency, and Devi Lal along with all opposition leaders were jailed for 19 months. In 1977 the emergency ended and general elections were held. He was elected on the Janata Party ticket and became the Chief Minister of Haryana. For his steadfast opposition to emergency and dictatorial misrule, he became known as Sher-e-Haryana (Lion of Haryana).
He remained a member of parliament from 1980 to 1982 and was a member of State assembly between 1982 and 1987. He formed Lok Dal and started Nyaya Yuddh (en. battle for justice), under the banner of Haryana Sangharsh Samiti, and became hugely popular among masses. In the 1987 state elections, the alliance led by Devi Lal won a record victory winning 85 seats in the 90 member house. Congress won the other five seats. Devi Lal became the Chief Minister of Haryana for the second time. In the 1989 parliamentary election, he was simultaneously elected, both from Sikar in Rajasthan and Rohtak in Haryana. He twice became Deputy Prime Minister of India in two different governments. He was elected to Rajya Sabha in August, 1998. Later his son Om Prakash Chautala also became the Chief Minister of Haryana.
After independence, Devi Lal emerged as a leader of farmers. During his two tenures as chief minister of Haryana he made several decisions benefiting farmers and rural people. He always took decisions about the betterment of common people. His popularity among farmers and rural people, earned him the title of 'Tau' (Elder Uncle). Devi Lal died on April 6, 2001 at the age of 86. He was cremated at Sangarsh Sthal on the banks of the river Yamuna. "Kisan Ghat" is the samadhi of another popular leader of the farmers, Charan Singh, fifth Prime Minister of India.
Read more about this topic: Chaudhary Devi Lal
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