Chandy, a major player in building Congress in Kerala

Chandy moved to the key spot of United Democratic Front, left vacant by late K Karunakaran and A K Antony when he was chosen Chief Minister for an interim term in 2004-06. He led the coalition as Opposition leader after the UDF's defeat in 2006, enjoying the confidence of all components.

His first tenure as chief minister was from September 2004 to May 2006 after A K Antony resigned owning moral responsibility for the Congress rout in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.
Though KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala's entry in this poll initially sent signals he would throw in his hat in the race, he today opted out, paving the way for Chandy's unanimous choice for the tough job of leading the UDF ministry, which has only a two-seat margin in a 140-member house.

A leader who always draws energy by being in the midst of party workers and people, Chandy was elected to the Assembly from his home segment Puthupally for the 10th time in a row.

Since the 1970s, he has been a frontline soldier of the anti-Karunakaran axis in Congress and worked hard to build the party as a mass political force side-by-side his seniors A K Antony and Vayalar Ravi, drawing inspiration from populist policies initiated by late premier Indira Gandhi after 1969 split in the Congress.

This upsurge of Congress in 1970s made the party a mighty force in Kerala, capable of effectively taking on the cadre-based CPI(M) and the UDF coalition a formidable alternative that returned to power every five years.

Born on October 31, 1943 to Karottu Vallakkalil-KO Chandy and Baby, Chandy displayed leadership skills since his school days as a participant of the children’s forum Balajana Sakhyam floated by leading newspaper house Malayala Manorama.

He ventured into campus politics as an activist of the Congress’s student wing KSU in his high school days. Later he became its state president and sailed into Youth Congress and the KPCC leadership, choosing a whole time political career though he is a law graduate.

Despite being a major player and serving as minister in several UDF governments, Chandy had to wait till 2004 to emerge as Chief Minister following the resignation of A K Antony owning moral responsibility for the combine’s near-washout in 2004 Lok Sabha polls.

One of the few Congress leaders in Kerala who never aspired for any post at the Centre, in the party or in the cabinet, Chandy also never contested the Lok Sabha polls or sought the Rajya Sabha berth, always preferring to be in his home state.

Since the 1980's, he had held key portfolios including Finance in various UDF ministries.
Chandy also had to surmount many challenges to consolidate his position in the faction-ridden Congress in Kerala.

His mass appeal and political consistency helped him bounce back to centre stage after being eclipsed for a while by Karunakaran's son K Muraleedharan, who managed to become KPCC president in 2001 with his father's support.

Chandy's clever moves saved the A K Antony ministry of 2001-04 whenever it ran into troubles created by the Karunakaran faction. When Antony quit as Chief Minister, Chandy was unanimously elected CLP leader as other contenders were took weak to pose a credible challenge to him.

He was elected to the Kerala Assembly 10 times in a row from Puthuppally, a sprawling rural segment in Kottayam district.

His affection for his constituents is believed to be so deep that he never misses a chance to be in Puthupally despite his hectic schedule.

Political lore in Kerala has it that Chandy might knock at the doors of any house in Puthupally at anytime without prior intimation. He even named his house in state capital as Puthupally, whose doors are open to people any time.

Chandy's wife Mariamma Oommen is a bank officer and the couple have two daughters and a son.