Oommen Chandy’s genial affability and natural authority, gained through five demanding decades in parliamentary politics, had often helped hold the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition together even when its grip on power was tenuous, as during 2011-16 when it won the Assembly elections by a slender margin.
The 79-year-old veteran’s death at a hospital in Bengaluru after a two-year battle with cancer seemed to have left Congress bereft at a challenging time as it readies for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Also read: Oommen Chandy obituary | Puthupally never broke faith with him
