Bengaluru/Thiruvananthapuram, July 18: Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala, Oommen Chandy, breathed his last in the early hours of Tuesday at a private hospital in Bengaluru.
Aged 79, Chandy had been battling throat cancer and had been residing in Bengaluru since November of the previous year. His demise has led the Kerala government to announce a public holiday on Tuesday, with a two-day mourning period observed across the state.
Having served as the Chief Minister of Kerala on two occasions, Oommen Chandy holds a significant place in the history of Kerala Assembly records as the longest-serving legislator in the state. He won his first election from his home constituency of Puthupally in Kottayam district in 1970 and remained the sitting legislator for an uninterrupted 53 years until his passing.
His family intends to fly his body from Bengaluru later in the day to Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital, where the funeral is scheduled to take place at his home parish in Puthupally on Wednesday.
Condolences have poured in from various quarters, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reminiscing about their shared political journey since their debut in the Kerala Assembly in 1970. Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who was a close aide of Chandy, expressed deep sorrow, emphasizing that Kerala has lost a highly popular and compassionate politician. Antony recalled their long-standing camaraderie, stating that Chandy’s loss is irreplaceable.
Oommen Chandy’s legacy as a prominent figure in Kerala’s political landscape, known for his dedication to public service, will be fondly remembered by the people of Kerala.
