Former Kerala CM Oommen Chandy passes away at 79; schools closed today

NEW DELHI: All educational institutions and government offices have been closed today due to the passing away of former chief minister and senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy. He was 79. The state government has announced 2 days of state mourning.

The death of the former Kerala chief minister was announced by his son, Chandy Oommen, in a Facebook post. "Appa has passed away", Oommen wrote on his Facebook page, without elaborating. Chandy served as Kerala CM twice - in 2004 and 2011.

Chandy, who had not been keeping well for quite some time, had been staying in Bengaluru for treatment at a health facility.

"A public holiday and two days of official mourning have been declared today (July 18) in the state following the death of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy," the state government in a tweet said.

സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് ഇന്ന് (18) പൊതു അവധി
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മുൻ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ഉമ്മൻ ചാണ്ടിയുടെ നിര്യാണത്തെത്തുടർന്ന് സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് ഇന്ന് (ജൂലൈ 18) പൊതു അവധിയും രണ്ടു ദിവസത്തെ ഔദ്യോഗിക ദുഃഖാചരണവും പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു.#kerala #OomenChandy pic.twitter.com/dRYweV8qO1

— Kerala Government | കേരള സർക്കാർ (@iprdkerala) July 18, 2023

Expressing grief over the death, Member of Parliament (MP) Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor said: “In grief today at the loss of this dynamic, energetic people’s representative. Little did I realise this would be one of my last public engagements with him.”

In grief today at the loss of this dynamic, energetic people’s representative. Little did I realise this would be one of my last public engagements with him. #OommenChandyRIP https://t.co/G7BCpz1w9G

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 18, 2023

“Extremely sad to bid farewell to our most beloved leader and former CM Shri. Oommen Chandy. One of the most popular and dynamic leaders of Kerala, Chandy sir was loved across generations and sections of the population. The Congress family will miss his leadership and energy,” Kerala Congress said.

Extremely sad to bid farewell to our most beloved leader and former CM Shri. Oommen Chandy. One of the most popular and dynamic leaders of Kerala, Chandy sir was loved across generations and sections of the population. The Congress family will miss his leadership and energy. pic.twitter.com/YaeywDOKwd

— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) July 18, 2023

“We mourn the loss of former Kerala CM and Congress stalwart Shri Oommen Chandy. He was a champion of development, democracy and secularism. He inspired generations of young leaders with his dedication and charisma. We pray for his soul and his bereaved family,” Indian Youth Congress tweeted.

We mourn the loss of former Kerala CM and Congress stalwart Shri Oommen Chandy.

He was a champion of development, democracy and secularism.

He inspired generations of young leaders with his dedication and charisma.

We pray for his soul and his bereaved family. #OommenChandy pic.twitter.com/dVTNHtNp1D

— Indian Youth Congress (@IYC) July 18, 2023