Oommen Chandy, 79, who was twice chief minister of Kerala, was undergoing treatment for cancer at a Bengaluru hospital since February.
Former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy. (Creative Commons)
Former Kerala chief minister and veteran leader of Congress Oommen Chandy passed away in Bengaluru in the wee hours of Tuesday, 18 July.
The 79-year-old leader was under treatment for cancer at a hospital in Bengaluru since February his year after he was airlifted from Kerala.
Chandy’s family as well as senior leaders of Kerala Congress confirmed the unfortunate news of his death via social media posts.
Condolences have been pouring in for the senior leader who was last seen in public when he participated in the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi in Kerala on 18 September, 2022.
The tale of the king who triumphed over the world with the power of ‘love’ finds its poignant end.
Today, I am deeply saddened by the loss of a legend, @Oommen_Chandy. He touched the lives of countless individuals, and his legacy will forever resonate within our souls. RIP! pic.twitter.com/72hdK6EN4u
— K Sudhakaran (@SudhakaranINC) July 18, 2023
“Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.” ~ Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore
Om Shanti!#OommenChandyRIP pic.twitter.com/R5ac1mRBFY
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 18, 2023
Several leaders of the Congress recalled their time with Chandy as they expressed their grief over his passing away.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the passing away of veteran Congress leader, and said: “we have lost a humble and dedicated leader who devoted his life to public service and worked towards the progress of Kerala”.
In a tweet, Modi said, “I recall my various interactions with him, particularly when we both served as Chief Ministers of our respective states and later when I moved to Delhi. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this sorrowful hour. May his soul rest in peace”.
In the passing away of Shri Oommen Chandy Ji, we have lost a humble and dedicated leader who devoted his life to public service and worked towards the progress of Kerala. I recall my various interactions with him, particularly when we both served as Chief Ministers of our… pic.twitter.com/S6rd22T24j
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 18, 2023
Chandy’s death comes on the day of the second meeting of Opposition parties in Bengaluru.
Leaders of 26 Opposition parties, including Congress’ seniors like Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, are in Bengaluru for the meeting that is aimed at forging afront to take on BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Chandy, who represented the Puthuppally constituency in the Kerala Assembly since 1970, was chief minister of the southern state twice — once from 2004 to 2006, and then again from 2011 to 2016.
The Kerala government has announced Tuesday as a public holiday and two-day mourning as a mark of respect for the former chief minister.
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