On October 27, 2013, then Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy, en route to inaugurate the closing ceremony of the state police sports fest in Kannur, was injured after CPI(M) supporters pelted stones at him. Police filed charges against 113 party workers, including two MLAs. Ramesh Chennithala, the then president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, informed Chandy that the party was considering a hartal. However, Chandy shot down the suggestion. "Why should the people suffer just because some people pelted stones at me?"
Throughout his political career, Chandy prioritised the welfare of people. Within six years of becoming an MLA, a tribal colony was named after him. The construction of this colony—'Oommen Chandy Colony'—at Mazhuvadi, near Kazhinjukuzhy in Idukki, and its inauguration in 1976, was made possible due to a young Chandy's proactive efforts in overcoming bureaucratic obstacles. Initially, when the Youth Congress leader from the colony, Karimban Jose, and others expressed their desire to name the colony after Chandy, he tried to dissuade them. However, the colony residents and their leaders remained firm and Chandy had to relent.
Years later, in 2014, when he was serving as the chief minister, Chandy made an official visit, heard all the grievances of the oorumooppan (head of the hamlet), and allocated Rs 1 crore for infrastructure development.
People's affection also spilt over to his plate, literally. P.T. Chacko, who served as Chandy's press secretary, says that the former loved kappa (tapioca). “However, it eventually became a major issue as everyone, wherever we went, wanted to serve him tapioca," he recalls. "When he was the chief minister, we once attended an event at ISRO. There were many dignitaries from outside Kerala as well. However, the organisers prepared tapioca for him. After serving it, they told him, 'Sir, this tapioca was brought painstakingly and made just for you.'"
Among politicians, Chandy has probably attended the most number of family functions, especially weddings, in Kerala. "At one wedding, the host insisted Chandy eats there. And when he obliged, the host became overly enthusiastic and started serving every dish. The host even mixed payasam (a sweet dish) with the rice. He didn't say anything and continued to eat. However, the host noticed a hint of uneasiness on his face and asked, 'How are the curries, sir? Are they too spicy?' Chandy replied, 'I only doubt if it has become too sweet.'"
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Chandy never missed a meal in flights. "Since he was always on the go, moving from one place to another and constantly surrounded by people, he made sure to have his meal, especially non-vegetarian, whenever he was on a flight," says Chacko. “He would sleep for the rest of the journey. He would start his nap even before the flight took off and only wake up when the air hostess called him for a meal.”
Chandy always ensured his accessibility and transparency to the public. In 2004, he introduced the concept of webcasting the proceedings in the chief minister's chamber. This innovative initiative gained significant attention, even from international media. His mass contact programme, known as Jana Samparka Paripadi, too gained widespread attention and coverage. Reportedly, president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, too, conveyed to Chandy his appreciation for the programme. However, according to the book Coronakalathe Kunjoonjukadhakal by Chacko, the president mistook the daily crowd in the chief minister's office as the mass contact programme!
Chandy's presence always attracted crowds, and sometimes crowds landed him in trouble, too. The construction of Kochi Metro began in June 2013 during his tenure as the CM. The metro work happened at record speed, and within 873 days, the first test run was done. However, by the time the metro was inaugurated, Chandy was no longer in power, and his name was excluded from the list of invitees for the inaugural ceremony.
In response, the Congress organised a 'Janakeeya Yatra'. As part of it, Chandy arrived at the metro station and purchased a ticket for the journey. However, such was the crowd that he was unable to board the first train. He was finally able to get on the second train from Aluva to Palarivattom. Later, based on a complaint filed by an assistant line superintendent of the Kochi Metro, a case was registered against Chandy and other Congress leaders under various sections including rioting, unlawful assembly, and provisions of the Metro Railway (Operation & Maintenance) Act, 2002. Nevertheless, in 2021, the court acquitted Chandy and all others involved in the case, absolving them of the charges.
In 2018, Chandy was assigned the role of in-charge of Andhra Pradesh by the party. “By the time, I assumed the role of PCC president, he was already in a deteriorating state of health, which prevented him from being actively present in Andhra Pradesh,” Andhra Pradesh PCC president Gidugu Rudra Raju, told THE WEEK. “However, I made two visits to Bangalore, where he was receiving treatment, and engaged in extensive discussions with him, seeking his valuable guidance. Despite his illness, he remained deeply concerned about the welfare of Andhra Pradesh. He was the perfect embodiment of a simple and principled politician. He refrained from uttering any negative remarks about anyone, showcasing his inclusive nature. His goal was to unite everyone, treating individuals of all ranks with equal respect. It is under his guidance that I received this remarkable opportunity. I made a solemn commitment to work with honesty and integrity within the party, a pledge I made to him when I met him prior to assuming the role of PCC president. He serves as my ultimate role model in upholding these values.”
Chandy's greatest strength was the affection he received from the masses. It took 28 hours for his funeral procession to travel 150km from his residence—Puthupally House—in Thiruvananthapuram, to Thirunakkara in his home district Kottayam. An overwhelming number of mourners waited at every juncture along the route for hours, hoping to catch one final glimpse of their beloved leader.
Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, the Kerala state president of the Muslim League, said that the name 'Oommen Chandy' itself embodied simplicity. Even in death, he chose to keep it simple. Initially, the Kerala government had planned to bestow full state honours upon Chandy. However, his family declined the offer. Chandy's wife, Mariyamma, conveyed to the public administration department that her husband had expressed a desire for a modest funeral with religious ceremonies, without any state honours. So, Chandy is being laid to rest as an ordinary resident of Puthupally. Nevertheless, in the hearts and minds of hundreds of thousands of people, he will remain an extraordinary leader.