Kerala assembly pays rich tributes to Oommen Chandy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday paid glowing tributes to Oommen Chandy saying his demise marked the end of an era in Kerala politics.

Speaking at the obituary reference in the ninth session of the 15th                  Kerala Legislative Assembly which began here on Monday, the chief minister said Chandy's place was always among the legislators with rare qualities. He had the extraordinary achievement of repeatedly getting elected to the state assembly from the same constituency and never losing the seat during his over five-decade legislative assembly stint.

This is the first session of the House in more than five decades in which Chandy who passed away in Bengaluru on July 18, will not be present as the representative of Puthupally assembly constituency in Kottayam district.

The chief minister recollected that he  and Oommen Chandy had made their debut in the state assembly together.  

"Oommen Chandy was determined not to leave Kerala. An able and effective administrator, he steered the course of Congress politics in the state for half a century," Vijayan said.

"Despite being in different political parties there was no dearth of bonhomie between us," the chief minister said and recalled that even when Chandy was ill, he was very particular about discharging his duties as a people's representative.

Speaker A N Shamsheer recalled Chandy's valuable contribution in the House.

Opposition leader V D Satheeshan said Chandy was a man of the masses.  The crowd was the most important fuel in Oommen Chandy's life.

He was a leader with a difference who braved all the trials and tribulations, tread the rocky and thorny path to carve a place in common man's heart.

The former chief minister was characterized by his love and compassion for others.His whole life was dedicated to solving the problems of the people.

He was extra careful to ensure that even those who came with a minor problem should not leave disappointed.

Leaders of all political parties paid rich tributes to Chandy.

The assembly also paid homage to former speaker Vakkom Purushothaman who died on July 31.

After paying tributes to the two leaders, the House adjourned for the day and will resume on Tuesday. During the ten day long sitting the Assembly would take up a host of bills. The session will conclude on August 23.