Thiruvananthapuram: Former chief minister of Kerala who died at 79 in Bengaluru on Tuesday following a prolonged illness, was unquestionably the most popular face of the Congress party in Kerala.
A 24/7 politician, he was perhaps the most admired politician for his accessibility be it as an Opposition Leader or Chief Minister. Chandy who took a while to come out of the shadow of Congress stalwarts’ K Karunakaran and A K Antony to emerge as the most popular Congress leader, had carved a special place for himself among the hearts of people of the state.
His two year stint as Chief Minister of Kerala from 2004 to 2006, was marked by many new initiatives in state’s infrastructure, IT and social sectors. His pet programme “Adi Vegam Bahuduram” had received huge support from the masses and his popular Jan Adalats had helped common man to get their grievances redressed right on the spot. But owing to the split in the Congress party and major organizational problems, he could not succeed in bringing back the UDF to power in 2006 elections.
Popularly known as ''kunjoounju’’ Chandy entered politics as a firebrand student leader along with A K Antony and Vayalar Ravi. While both Antony and Vayalar Ravi had shifted base to Delhi, Chandy preferred to stay in Kerala shunning all offers of central assignment for decades till a few years ago when he was appointed AICC general secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh.
Even with his busy schedule as Opposition Leader and Chief Minister, Chandy had always nurtured his constituency Puthupally in Kottayam district like a child. And the electorate had reciprocated accordingly from 7000 votes margin in the 1970 elections, his victory margin increased over 33,000 votes in the 2011 elections clearly indicating his ever growing popularity in Puthupally constituency.
Even as a minister he had proved to be an efficient administrator holding various portfolios in the past including Labour, Home and Finance.
Even though Chandy was a bit hesitant to take on the mantle of Chief Minister in 2011 because of the slender margin; UDF 72 and LDF 68, the Congress high command reportedly prevailed upon him. Most Congressmen then felt that only Chandy could hold the coalition together besides rising up to the expectations of the people as a working Chief Minister.
While he managed to complete full term in office despite the slender margin, his tenure was marked by a series of controversial issues; bar bribe case, solar corruption case, phased prohibition, rape and murder of a dalit girl which went against the UDF in the 2016 polls. LDF came back to power with 91 seats.
Chandy’s health issues had resurfaced after he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. Though he was active in public life, there were occasions when he had to go for prolonged treatment in hospitals in India and abroad.
The Congress leader was only a pale shadow of his past with cancer returning in 2019. But the Congress led UDF riding on the popularity of Rahul Gandhi who contested from Wayanad, won 19 of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 general elections, Party insiders say it was Chandy who persuaded Rahul Gandhi to contest from Kerala.
But the Lok Sabha magic didn’t work in assembly elections. In 2021, the LDF under Pinaray Vijayan created history. The Left rode back to power in Kerala winning 99 of 140 seats bucking the over four-decade long trend of CPM led LDF and Congress led UDF coming to power attentively.
While Chandy continued to grapple with his deteriorating health, Congress witnessed a generational change in the state leadership. Congress in Kerala is now led by a new set of leaders including KPCC president K Sudhakaran and opposition leader V D Satheeshan.
Chandy’s death at this juncture when the Congress needed him the most, has created a huge void and shocked the partymen. Perhaps they will have to draw inspiration from their tireless leader to fight on.
The mass leader that Chandy was, returned to the masses in Thiruvananthapuram amid slogans of thousands of party workers as the vehicle carrying his mortal remains passed through the streets of the Capital city on Tuesday.
The mortal remains will be taken by road to his native place Puthupally in Kottayam on Wednesday morning. The funeral service will be held at St' George Church , Puthupally at 2 pm on Thursday.
