Coffee table book on former Kerala CM Oommen Chandy released

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 10 (UNI) A coffee table book on two time former Congress Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who completed 50 years as a MLA, was released here on Wednesday.
The book on 78-year-old Chandy, the most popular face of Congress in Kerala, representing his home town Puthupally in Kottayam district since 1970, was released by former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Vayalar Ravi.
Former Chairman of Kerala Sahithya Academy Perumbadavam Sreedharan received the first copy of the coffee table book brought out by Congress party’s mouth piece, Veekshanam Daily.
Chandy’s record has been bettered in Kerala only by late KM Mani, who won from Pala constituency since 1967, but passed away last year.
Chandy was the unit president of KSU (Kerala Students Union) at St George High School, Puthupally, and the State President of the organization during 1967-69. He was elected as the president of the State Youth Congress in 1970.
Chandy completed his pre university course from CMS College, Kottayam, and BA Economics from St Berchmans College, Changanassery. He took a bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) from Government Law College, Ernakulam.
He was the Minister for Labour from April 11, 1977 to April 25, 1977 in the first K. Karunakaran Ministry and continued holding the same portfolio in the succeeding first AK Antony Ministry till October 27, 1978. He was in the charge of Home portfolio in the second K Karunakaran Ministry from December 28, 1981 to March 17, 1982. Again, he was sworn in as a minister in the fourth K Karunakaran Ministry on July 2, 1991. He was in charge of Finance Portfolio and resigned from the cabinet on June 22, 1994 due to difference with the Chief Minister.
In 2004, following the resignation of AK Antony as Chief Minister due to Congress party’s poor performance in Lok Sabha elections and factional politics, Chandy became his successor for a short duration (August 2004 to May 2006).
Chandy was the Opposition leader in the 12th Kerala Legislative Assembly. Under his leadership UDF marked victories in Lok Sabha Election 2009, gaining 16 out of 20 parliament constituencies in Kerala, and Local Body Election in 2010. In the history of Kerala politics it’s the first time that the UDF got an upper hand in local body elections.
Chandy secured a slender margin in assembly election which held in 2011, and became the Chief Minister second time. Congress-led UDF candidates won in 72 seats against 68 seats of LDF (Left Democratic Front).
UNI DS ASN