Former Kerala Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Oommen Chandy passed away early Tuesday morning at a Bengaluru hospital at the age of 79. Chandy had been undergoing treatment for cancer since 2019. The news of his demise was shared by his son, Chandy Oommen, a Congress leader, on Facebook at 4:30 am.
The mortal remains of Oommen Chandy will be flown to Thiruvananthapuram and will be kept on display first at the Congress state committee office and then at the Durbar Hall of the state government secretariat. This will allow the public to pay their final respects to the late leader. The funeral is scheduled to take place on Thursday at Puthuppally in Kottayam.
In honor of Oommen Chandy’s passing, the government of Kerala has declared a two-day state mourning period and a public holiday on Tuesday.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his condolences, stating, “It is extremely difficult to bid him farewell.” He reminisced about their shared political journey, as they were elected to the Legislative Assembly in the same year and entered politics through student life. Chief Minister Vijayan praised Chandy’s capabilities as an administrator and his close connection with the people’s lives.
Oommen Chandy had a long and illustrious political career, making him one of Kerala’s most popular political leaders and a key figure in the Congress party. He served as the Chief Minister of Kerala from 2011 to 2016 and from 2004 to 2006. Additionally, he held the position of Opposition leader in the State Assembly from 2006 to 2011.
Known for his mass appeal and love for connecting with the public, Chandy was the longest-serving legislator in the Kerala Assembly. Representing the Puthuppally Assembly constituency, he held office successively from 1970 until his demise, a remarkable accomplishment in the state’s political landscape. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Chandy won his seat for the 12th consecutive time. He also served in four Congress cabinets, working alongside veterans such as K Karunakaran and A K Antony, where he handled important portfolios like Labour, Finance, and Home.
Oommen Chandy was born on October 31, 1943, in Puthuppally, Kottayam, which eventually became his political stronghold. He embarked on his political journey through the Kerala Students Union, the student wing of the Congress party. With a law degree in hand, Chandy swiftly rose through the ranks and became a prominent leader of the Kerala Youth Congress. In 1969, he assumed the position of state president. At the age of 27, he was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly from Puthuppally in the 1970 elections.
During his second term as Chief Minister, Chandy initiated a unique mass contact program where he personally met with the public to address their grievances and ensure effective resolution. This program gained widespread acclaim as a democratic experiment, earning the United Nations Global Award for Public Service in 2013.
The passing of Oommen Chandy marks the end of an era in Kerala politics, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated service and a close bond with the people. His contributions to the state and his enduring popularity will be remembered by many.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
