CAUSE OF DEATH: Former chief minister of Kerala, Oommen Chandy, confirmed dead after prolonged battle with cancer

CAUSE OF DEATH: Former chief minister of Kerala, Oommen Chandy, confirmed dead after prolonged battle with cancer…..

Kerala’s two-time Chief Minister and Congress veteran Oommen Chandy, MLA, 79, passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru at 4.25 a.m. on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

Doctors attributed the cause of death to complications arising from a prolonged fight with cancer.

 Mr. Chandy had battled poor health for nearly two years and briefly sought treatment in Germany. However, his condition worsened in recent days, compelling doctors to put him on life support. His death prompted a flood of tributes from leaders across the political spectrum.

Chandy also took charge of the Home portfolio in the second K. Karunakaran Ministry from December 1981 to March 1982. Notably, Chandy served as a minister overseeing the Finance portfolio in the fourth K. Karunakaran Ministry. However, he resigned from the cabinet in June 1994 to protest against Karunakaran’s denial of a Rajya Sabha ticket to a factional leader.

The passing of Oommen Chandy has deeply impacted the people of Kerala, prompting the government to declare Tuesday as a public holiday. A period of two days has been designated for mourning, allowing the state to honor and reflect upon the remarkable contributions made by their former chief minister.

Mr. Chandy’s election to the Legislative Assembly from the Puthupally constituency in the Kottayam district catapulted him to the centre stage of Congress politics in Kerala in the 1970s. He served the constituency for the next 53 years. Puthupally never broke faith with him since.

Mr.Chandy was Kerala’s Chief Minister from 2004 to 2006 and 2011 to 2016. He also served as the Leader of the Opposition from 2006 to 2011. Chandy’s health had been a concern for nearly two years, leading him to seek treatment even abroad, in Germany. Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated in recent days, necessitating the assistance of life support. As the news of his demise broke, tributes began pouring in from leaders spanning the entire political spectrum.

Hailing from Puthupally, Kottayam district, Chandy’s political journey started with his active involvement in the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the largest student organization in the state, which is affiliated with the Indian National Congress party. Rising through the ranks, he first held the position of unit president at St. George High School in Puthupally before ultimately becoming the State President of the organization, showcasing his natural leadership abilities from an early age.

Chandy’s dedication to serving the public went beyond his tenure as Chief Minister. Throughout his career, he assumed significant ministerial roles within the Kerala government on four separate occasions. He served as the Minister for Labour in the first K. Karunakaran Ministry from April 1977 to October 1978 and held the same position during the first A. K. Antony Ministry.