- Wednesday, April 23, 2025
The Kerala government announced Tuesday as a public holiday and two days’ mourning as a mark of respect to the late leader.
By: Shubham Ghosh
SENIOR Indian National Congress leader Oommen Chandy, who served as the chief minister of the southern state of Kerala twice, died in a private hospital in Bengaluru in the neighbouring state of Karnataka in the early hours of Tuesday (18), his family said.
He was 79.
Chandy’s death was announced by his son, Chandy Oommen, in a Facebook post.
“Appa has passed away”, Oommen wrote on his Facebook page, without elaborating.
The Kerala government announced Tuesday as a public holiday and two days’ mourning as a mark of respect to the late leader.
Congress sources said Chandy died at a private hospital at 4.25 am while undergoing treatment for cancer.
The late politician, who had not been keeping well for quite some time, was staying in Bengaluru for treatment.
He was the chief minister twice for a total of seven years (2004–2006 and again from 2011–2016).
Chandy had also served as minister in various Congress governments in Kerala headed by K Karunakaran and A K Antony. He has also served as the leader of opposition in the Kerala Assembly.
Representing Kerala’s Puthuppally constituency, Chandy served as a state lawmaker for more than half a century setting the record for the longest tenure.
Prime minister Narendra Modi condoled Chandy’s death on Twitter in both English and Malayalam, the state language of Kerala.
He said, “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 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
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid tribute to Chandy by calling him an “exemplary grassroots leader”
Oommen Chandy ji was an exemplary grassroots Congress leader. He will be remembered for his lifelong service to the people of Kerala.
We will miss him dearly. Much love and condolences to all his loved ones. pic.twitter.com/QL8pGJrXwW
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 18, 2023
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, top party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah paid homage to Chandy in Bengaluru where a two-day opposition party meeting was underway.
Shashi Tharoor, a Congress parliamentarian from Kerala, tweeted, “Sadly, it was not to be. The news of
@Oommen_Chandy’s passing leaves millions bereft. My heart goes out to his family at this inexpressibly sad time. May his soul rest in peace. Om Shanti.”
Sadly, it was not to be. The news of @Oommen_Chandy’s passing leaves millions bereft. My heart goes out to his family at this inexpressibly sad time. May his soul rest in peace. Om Shanti. ? https://t.co/gtWnVdwKck
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 18, 2023
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, state assembly speaker A N Shamseer, leader of opposition V D Satheesan, central minister V Muraleedharan, and leaders of various political parties condoled Chandy’s demise.
(With agency inputs)
