Shri. Oommen Chandy , an able organiser and a leader of the masses, is the present Chief Minister of Kerala, occupying the chair since August 31, 2004, coming as successor to Shri. A.K. Antony. Shri. Oommen Chandy was born on October 30, 1943 at Kumarakom in Kottayam district to Shri. Karottu Vallakkalil K.V. Chandy and Smt. Baby Chandy.
An ardent follower of Indian National Congress with an inherent yearning for social service, Shri. Oommen Chandy has climbed the party echelons through the KSU and Youth Congress. Starting as the Unit President of KSU at St.George High School, Puthupally, he went on to become the State President of the organisation during 1967-69. He completed his college education from CMS College Kottayam, S.B. College, Changanassery and Government Law College, Ernakulam. Besides bestowing knowledge, these campuses moulded the career of a mass leader.
Shri. Oommen Chandy became the President of Youth Congress in 1970-71. He was also a member of the AICC. His leadership qualities were evident in trade union activities as well. He was the President of the INTUC, Kottayam District Committee, and the Vice President of All India Youth wing of the INTUC and acted as President of various trade union organizations affiliated to the INTUC. During those days he led several mass movements addressing causes concerning the workers and the common man.
Shri Oommen Chandy whose social and political career stretches over four decades, has been elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly eight times. He has the rare distinction of representing the same constituency, Puthuppally in Kottayam district, for a record period of 35 years continuously. He was elected to the KLA in 1970, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1991 and 2001. During his long legislative career he had also served as the Chairman of Public Accounts Committee during 1996-98. Shri. Chandy was the Minister for Labour from 11.4.1977 to 25.4.1977 in the Karunakaran Ministry and continued holding the same portfolio in the succeeding cabinet headed by Shri. A.K.Antony, till 27.10.1978. He was the Home Minister also in the Cabinet of Shri. K.Karunakaran from 28.12.1981 to 17.3.1982. Again, he was sworn in as a minister in the Karunakaran cabinet with Finance portfolio on July2, 1991. However, he resigned from the cabinet on 22.6.1994 owing to turn of events and the differences with the then Chief Minister.
Shri. Oommen Chandy served as Convenor of the UDF twice i.e. during 1982-86 and 2001-2004. A long time associate of Shri. A.K. Antony, Shri Oommen Chandy subsequently took charge as the Chief Minister of Kerala on August 31st 2004, following the resignation of the former.
He has made his indelible mark during his long career in public life. Sanctioning of Unemployment Allowance, introducing welfare measures for the labourers, uniform modification of police personnel are some of them. As the Chief Minister , Shri. Oommen Chandy brought forth innovative measures like “Fast-Forward” and new initiatives like “Mass Contact Programme” for the timely redressal of people’s grievances.
Shri. Oommen Chandy has also attended the Thirtyfifth World Economic Forum held at Davos, Switzerland in January 2006.
Smt. Mariamma Oommen is his wife and they have one son and two daughters.