The Kerala government has declared a public holiday on Tuesday July 18th 2023 as a mark of respect to former Chief Minister of Kerala and veteran Congress leader Oommen Chandy who passed away in Bengaluru.
All government offices and educational institutions including professional colleges will remain shut on Tuesday. The state will also observe two days of mourning.
Oommen Chandy had been undergoing cancer treatment at the HCG hospital in Bengaluru. He had been staying at Karnataka minister T John’s residence. On Monday night, he was rushed to the nearby Chinmaya Mission hospital after he felt sick.
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 of Labour, Home, and Finance in various governments headed by K Karunakaran and A K Antony. He also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly.
Representing Puthuppally constituency, Chandy served as the MLA for more than half a century setting the record for the longest tenure.
