Former Kerala CM Oommen Chandy passes away at 79: Former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy died at the age of 79. He was a well-known public personality and a famous politician in the Kottayam region, representing the Puthupally constituency. Chandy held the office of Chief Minister twice during his political career.
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On October 30, 1943, he was born to Karottu Vallakalil K.V. Chandy and Baby Chandy and began his political career by actively participating in the Kerala Students Union (KSU) and the Youth Congress. In his political career, he served as the State General Secretary of the KSU in 1965 and then as its State President in 1967. Chandy received his education at St. George High School in Kottayam and went on to study at CMS College, Kottayam, SB College Changanassery, and the Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.
Long Political Career of Oommen Chandy
- Oommen Chandy led the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) governments in Kerala on two occasions: from August 31, 2004, to May 12, 2006, and from May 18, 2011, to May 20, 2016.
- Throughout his lengthy political career, he held a number of significant positions, including Labour Minister in the K. Karunakaran Ministry in 1977 and the same portfolio in the succeeding ministry led by A.K. Antony. He also served as the Home Minister in the K. Karunakaran cabinet from December 1981 to March 1982 and held the Finance portfolio in the UDF ministry of 1991.
- Chandy’s political journey began as the president of the Youth Congress in 1970, and he was actively involved in the INTUC, the Congress-backed trade union. He was first elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1970. He was also the convener of the UDF from 1982 to 1986 and again from 2001 to 2004. Chandy assumed the position of Chief Minister in 2004 after A.K. Antony’s resignation and held the office for a second time in 2011. During 2006-2011, he served as the Opposition Leader.
Representing the Puthupally constituency for more than five decades, Chandy was a skilled politician who played a significant role in the internal ‘group’ dynamics within the state unit of the Congress. During his stint as Chief Minister, he gained widespread popularity and instituted the ‘Mass Contact’ programme to address public issues. Additionally, he was presently serving as the general secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
