- Oommen Chandy
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Oommen Chandy
ഉമ്മന് ചാണ്ടി
Chief Minister of Kerala Incumbent Assumed office
May 18, 2011Governor R. S. Gavai Preceded by V.S. Achuthanandan Constituency Puthuppally In office
August 31, 2004 – May 18, 2006Preceded by A. K. Antony Succeeded by V.S. Achuthanandan Constituency Puthuppally Personal details Born October 31, 1943
Puthuppally, TravancorePolitical party Indian National Congress Spouse(s) Mariamma Oommen Children 1 son and 2 daughters Residence Puthuppally, Kerala Religion Christian, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Website http://www.keralacm.gov.in/ As of Nov 2, 2007
Source: Govt. of KeralaOommen Chandy (Malayalam: ഉമ്മന് ചാണ്ടി) (born 31 October 1943 in Puthuppally, Travancore, Indian Empire) is an Indian politician and the current Chief Minister of Kerala. He has held the Chief Minister of Kerala position earlier from 2004 to 2006, and was the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2011.[1]
Contents
Early life
Oommen Chandy or 'Kunjoonju' was born to K.O. Chandy and Baby Chandy. Born in an upper class affluent Orthodox Syrian Christian family at Puthuppally,kottayam district, Kerala, Chandy ventured into the political arena as an activist of Kerala Students Union (KSU), the student wing of the party. He was the unit president of KSU at St George High School, Puthupally, and went on to become the State President of the organization. Chandy completed his college education from CMS College, Kottayam, SB College, Changanassery. Later, he took a bachelors degree in law (LLB) from Government Law College, Ernakulam. He is also a trade unionist and heads several INTUC affiliated outfits.
Political life
Chandy started his political career through the Kerala Students Union (KSU), which he served as president from 1967 to 1969. He was elected as the president of the State Youth Congress in 1970. He is the 21st chief minster of Kerala at present.
He has represented Puthuppally Constituency for decades, having been elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1970, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011. During his long legislative career he had also served as the Chairman of Public Accounts Committee during 1996-98.
Election Victories Year Closest rival Majority (votes) 1970 E.M.George (CPM) 7,288 1977 P.C.Cherian (BLD) 15,910 1980 M.R.G.Panicker (NDP) 13,659 1982 Thomas Rajan (ICS) 15,983 1987 V.N.Vasavan (CPM) 9,164 1991 V.N.Vasavan (CPM) 13,811 1996 Reji Zacharia (CPM) 10,155 2001 Cherian Philip(CPM Ind.) 12,575 2006 Sindu Joy (CPM) 19,863 2011 Suja Susan George (CPM) 33,255 Minister
Chandy sworn as a minister in Kerala for four times. He was the Minister for Labour from 11.04.1977 to 25.04.1977 in the first K. Karunakaran Ministry and continued holding the same portfolio in the succeeding first A.K. Antony Ministry till 27.10.1978. He was in the charge of Home portfolio in the second K. Karunakaran Ministry from 28.12.1981 to 17.03.1982. Again, he was sworn in as a minister in the fourth K.Karunakaran Ministry on July 02, 1991. He was in charge of Finance Portfolio and resigned from the cabinet on 22.06.1994 due to difference with the Chief Minister.
Minister in different ministries
No. Ministry Portfolio period 1 1st K. Karunakaran Labour 11/04/1977 - 25.04/1977 2 1st A. K. Antony Labour 27/04/1977 - 27/10/1978 3 2nd K. Karunakaran Home 28/12/1981 - 17/03/1982 4 4th K. Karunakaran Finance 02/07/1991 - 22/06/1994 5 5th Oommen Chandy Chief Minister 31/08/2004 - 18/05/2006 6 6th Oommen Chandy Chief Minister 17/05/2011 - till Date > Chief Minister 2004-2006
The results of the parliamentary elections in May 2004 saw the Indian National Congress not winning a single seat in Kerala. The sitting Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, was forced to resign and accept responsibility for the poor results. On 30 August 2004, Oommen was elected the Congress Legislature Party leader at the end of a meeting by AICC observers and clearance by the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi. In what may be seen as a reflection of his work as Chief Minister, the Congress-led alliance was defeated, but managed to retain 40 out of 140 seats in the assembly and boost its vote-share by nearly 10% after the general election rout. He resigned as Chief Minister on May 12, 2006 following the defeat of his party in 2006 Assembly Elections.
Leader of Opposition
Oommen Chandy was the leader of opposition in the twelfth Kerala Legislative Assembly. Under his leadership UDF marked victories in Lok Sabha Election 2009 and Local Body Election 2010. In the history of Kerala politics it's first time that UDF got an upper hand in local body elections.
Leader of Congress Parliamentary Party
After winning the close contested 2011 assembly election, Congress legislative party unanimously electerd Oommen Chandy as it's leader. At the Congress Legislature Party meeting, Mr. Chandy's name was proposed by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala and seconded by Aryadan Mohammed. The election process was formally launched after Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Mohsina Kidwai and AICC general secretary Madhusoodan Mistry, who is in charge of Kerala, held a one-to-one meeting in their capacity as observers with the 38 elected MLAs.
Second term as Chief Minister (from 2011 onwards)
UDF (United Democratic Front) led by Oommen Chandy secured a slender margin in assembly election which held on 13 April, 2011. UDF candidates won in 72 seats against 68 seats of LDF (Left Democratic Front). He took the oath on 18-05-2011 with six other ministers of his cabinet. Later thirteen other ministers were also inducted into his cabinet. He gave up Vigilance Portfolio in early August 2011, after a fresh probe was ordered on the Palm Oil case (which happened when he was Finance Minister in 1992).[2]
Major achievements of Oommen Chandy Ministry
Rehabilitation of Moolampilly Victims
The government and representatives of people evicted from Moolampilly for the Vallarpadam Tranship Container Terminal Project in Kochi reached an agreement settling outstanding issues regarding the rehabilitation.
The government would provide water supply, electricity, and road connectivity to a common point in each of the plots earmarked for resettlement of the evictees who had lost their homes. The area would be demarcated in such a way that costal zone regulations would not come in the way of constructing two-storied buildings with sufficient built-up area. A sum of Rs.75,000 would be given to each family for piling as the land given was marshy.
The government would continue to provide rent at Rs.5,000 a month to the evictees up to six months after the establishment of the infrastructure facilities promised by the government. The arrears in rent for the past 27 months would also be paid to them.
State government would take up with the Cochin Port Trust the issue of providing jobs to a member of each of the evicted families at the Vallarpadam project.
Cases to be withdrawn
The government would withdraw all cases against the evictees and those who assisted them in their agitation excluding those involving violence and destruction of property. The Revenue Department would write to the Centre seeking exemption of compensation paid to the evictees from income tax on capital gains. Conditions on titles given under the rehabilitation package would be relaxed to enable the evictees pledge the land to banks for availing loans.
It was also decided at the conference that 12 families who had been denied allotment of land under the rehabilitation package would be given titles. They would be given all the benefits under the package upon their forfeiting compensation paid under the Land Acquisition Act and withdrawal of cases filed by them against the government. Two of the evictees, Joy John and John Joseph, who lost their livelihood would be given assistance to start a trade.
A monitoring committee headed by the District Collector would oversee implementation of the agreement and bring issues, if any, to the notice of the government.
Aid for endosulfan victims
The UDF Government had increased the aid from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. As many as 176 victims who had been given Rs 50,000 earlier were given an additional Rs 50,000 on Monday. The remaining families in the list of 486 victims were distributed Rs 1 lakh each.[3]
Enforcing transparency
In an attempt to enforce transparency 24x7 live webcast streaming of Chief ministers office and meeting chamber started on 1st July 2011. This is streamed on the official website of the Chief Minister of Kerala.[4]
Controversies
Palmolein Oil Import Scam
The Palmolein Oil Import Scam occurred during the year 1991-92 in the Kerala state when K. Karunakaran was the chief minister of the state and the ruling party was United Democratic Front. During this time Oommen Chandy was the Finance Minister[5] of the state and was responsible for financial accounts of the state of Kerala. This scam allegedly caused a loss of Rs 2.32 crore to the state. The case once closed after the death of K. Karunakaran in December 2010 was reopened in March 2011[6] during the election period of 2011. However this did not affect the election results to a great extent.
The court stated that Oommen Chandy had approved of the import of palmolein through "Power and Energy Ltd" by paying 15% service charge and it was evident from his signature in the note.[7]. However the court has not been able to show any direct involvement of Oommen Chandy in the scam . Aiding to the investigation of the case in 2011, when the case was reopen, Oommen Chandy, the then Chief Minister had agreed to step down from the Office of Chief Minister of Kerala in 2011, and face the case "legally and morally". But on the advice on Congress core committee, Oommen Chandy continues to stay incumbent.[8]
The vigilance court asked the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau to submit its investigation report of the palmolein case by November 10, 2011.[8]
See also
- Chief Ministers of Kerala
- Kerala Ministers
- Palmolein Oil Import Scam
Preceded by
V. S. AchuthanandanOommen Chandy
2011– till dateSucceeded by
IncumbentReferences
- ^ Krishnan, Anantha. "Kerala assembly elections 2011: UDF wins by narrow margin". The Times Of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/assembly-elections-2011/kerala/Kerala-assembly-elections-2011-UDF-wins-by-narrow-margin/articleshow/8288245.cms.
- ^ http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/kerala-chief-minister-oommen-chandy-gives-up-vigilance-portfolio-after-probe-order/articleshow/9540035.cms
- ^ "Oommen Chandy sworn in Kerala CM". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 18 May 2011. http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article2029001.ece.
- ^ "Transparent Government, via Webcams in India". New York, United States of America: The New York Times. 17 July 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/18/business/global/in-india-an-official-puts-a-webcam-in-office.html?_r=1.
- ^ Probe Chandy’s role in 1992 Palmolein case Zee News, Thiruvananthapuram, August 08, 2011
- ^ Palmolein import scandal case to be reopened The Economic Times,Thiruvanathapuram, March 15, 2011
- ^ Palmolein case: Chandy knew, feels the Court The New Indian Express, August 10, 2011
- ^ a b Palm oil deal glare on Chandy The Telegraph,Thiruvananthapuram, August 08,2011.
External links
- The official website of Kerala Chief Minister
- The official Facebook fanpage of Oommen Chandy
- The official You Tube page of Oommen Chandy
Categories:- People from Kottayam
- 1943 births
- Living people
- Chief Ministers of Kerala
- Politics of Kerala
- Indian Christians
- Syrian Malabar Nasrani
- Malayali people
- Malayali politicians
- Indian National Congress politicians from Kerala
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