Oommen Chandy: Two-Time Kerala CM Whose Mass Contact Programme Made Him A People's Leader

Oommen Chandy Passes Away: Chandy gained the reputation of being a people's leader and his outreach to the needy through his mass contact programme was recognised by the United Nations as well.

Former Kerala CM Oomen Chandy at JNU in Delhi

The face of Puthupally constituency in Kerala and the longest-serving legislator in the Assembly, Oommen Chandy had the reputation of being a people's leader and his outreach to the needy through his mass contact programme (Jana Samparkka Paripadi) during his tenure as Chief Minister was recognised by the United Nations as well.

Chandy, whom Congress' Jairam Ramesh called a 24×7 politician, passed away on Tuesday in Bengaluru. He was 79.

The former CM is survived by his wife Mariamma and children Maria Oommen, Chandy Oommen, and Achu Oommen.

Early Years Of Oommen Chandy

Oommen Chandy, who was also called as OC and 'Kunjoonju', was born in a Syrian Christian family at Kumarakom in Kottayam district. He completed his schooling from St George High School, Puthupally.

Chandy rose through the ranks of the Congress after entering politics through the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the state Congress students' wing.

He went on to become the state president of KSU in 1967, replacing another veteran Congress leader AK Antony. Three years later, Chandy was elected as the president of the State Youth Congress.

He completed his college from CMS College, Kottayam, and SB College, Changanassery. He did his law from Law College, Ernakulam.

Chandy made his electoral debut in 1970 at the age of 27 when he won from the Puthuppally seat in the Kerala  Assembly election. He represented the Puthuppally Assembly constituency as MLA for more than 50 years, setting the record for the longest tenure.

He also served as Labour Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister in various governments under K Karunakaran and AK Antony between 1977 to 1994. He also served as the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly.

Two-Time Kerala Chief Minister

Chandy was the chief minister twice for a total of seven years (2004-2006 and again from 2011-2016).

Despite being in period for a short time, Chandy, during his first tenure, earned the sobriquet of being a leader of the masses after he sanctioned unemployment allowance and adopted welfare measures for labourers.

Chandy gained popularity during his second tenure as CM, with policies such as the 100 days programmes and mass contact programme giving people direct access to leaders and the government.

His second tenure, however, was not a bed of roses and Chandy, through his political acumen, navigated the UDF through choppy waters as it won the Assembly elections only by a slender margin. 

Even when beset by political scandals like the infamous solar scandal and bar bribery cases, Chandy negotiated his government with a steady nerve.

Mass Contact Programme (Jana Samparkka Paripadi)

During his second tenure as CM from 2011-16, Chandy launched the mass contact programme aimed to connect directly with the people and understand their needs. Under this programme, Chandy launched social welfare pensions, gave ration at subsidised rates and introduced schemes for the poor.

Chandy himself travelled and met thousands of people directly without any intermediaries. Two years into his second term, Chandy received the United Nations Public Service Award for this programme.

Even though he was not in the best of health in recent times, Chandy continued to remain the most popular Congress leader in Kerala.