Haryana polls: Husband Ajay Chautala behind bars, Naina Chautala takes to the villages

DABWALI: She happens to be the wife of two times former MP and three times MLA, and mother of one of the youngest MPs of the country, but till a week ago Naina Singh Chautala was a demure wife and a doting mother, minding the house.
Despite almost all her family members being noted political leaders, she steadfastly stayed away from politics.

But now Naina finds herself in the middle of a political battle, where she has been tasked to compensate in the absence of her incarcerated husband Ajay Singh Chautala.

In its 62 years of politics, beginning with Chaudhary Devi Lal, former Dy PM, the Chautala family has never fielded a woman candidate.

But the "compelling" and "unfortunate" circumstances of the family, as Naina describes it, have forced a change in the family script.

The anxious wait of an enthusiastic bunch of villagers, clad in white kurta pyjamas, culminates in excitement as they spot "Naina behenji’s" cavalcade approaching their small village in Dabwali, a constituency from where Naina will contest in place of her husband.

Amid an army of security guards and supporters, hanging out of SUVs, Naina gingerly steps out of her vehicle to say ‘namaste’ to everyone, her head covered and a nervous smile lighting up her face.

Seconds later, the demure lady connects with the gathering by articulating in chaste Haryanvi. She focuses on women who, with their faces and head covered, have come out in large numbers to support OP Chautala’s daughter-in-law.

"I was encouraged and convinced by the public of Dabwali to contest the elections," she smiles.

Few minutes later, Naina displays her emotional side. Her voice chokes up as she grabs the microphone to address a gathering in village Teja Khera, birthplace of Chaudhary Devi Lal; tears well up even as she speaks about her husband and father-in-law.

Describing herself as "bahu" (daughter in law) of the village, she chooses to address the women first. "I am especially thankful to the women for coming out of their houses to support me," she speaks in local dialect.