Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has passed away. He was 79.
The senior Congress leader, who was being treated for cancer, breathed his last at a Bengaluru hospital early July 18 morning.
His son Chandy Oommen announced the news through a Facebook post.
A long-time legislator representing the Puthupally constituency in Kottayam district and an immensely popular public figure, Chandy was the Chief Minister of Kerala twice.
He led the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) ministries in Kerala from August 31, 2004, to May 12, 2006, and from May 18, 2011, to May 20, 2016.
During a long political career, Chandy served as Labour’s Minister in 1977 in the K. Karunakaran Ministry and held the same portfolio in the Ministry led by A.K. Antony in the succeeding cabinet. He was the Home Minister in the K. Karunakaran cabinet from December 1981 to March 1982. He also held the Finance portfolio in the UDF ministry of 1991.
Born to Karottu Vallakalil K.V. Chandy and Baby Chandy on October 30, 1943, Chandy became active in politics through the Kerala Students Union (KSU) and the Youth Congress. He became State general secretary of the KSU in 1965 and its State in 1967. He did his schooling at the St. George High School, Kottayam. Chandy is also an alumnus of the CMS College, Kottayam, SB College Changanassery, and the Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.
He became president of the Youth Congress in 1970, and was also active in the INTUC, the Congress-backed trade union.
He was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1970.
He was also the convener of the UDF during 1982-86 and 2001-2004. Chandy took over as Chief Minister in 2004 following the resignation of A.K. Antony. He became CM a second time in 2011. He was also Opposition Leader during 2006-2011.
He represented the Puthupally constituency for over five decades.
An astute politician, Chandy had featured prominently in the inner-party ‘group’ manoeuvring within the state unit of the Congress. He was also immensely popular with the masses. He had devised the ‘Mass Contact’ programme to address the problems faced by the public during his term as Chief Minister.
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He was also the general secretary of the AICC at present.
Chandy leaves behind his wife Mariamma Oommen, and children Achu Oommen, Maria Oommen and Chandy Oomen.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan condoled the death.
