For the first time in more than five decades, Kerala is witnessing an assembly election without Oommen Chandy in the fray, a presence who has long set the political rhythm of his constituency, Puthuppally, as well as the state.
The absence of a committed Congress is not merely electoral; for many in this central Kerala constituency, it is deeply personal.
Almost three years after his death at his tomb in the Orthodox Church of St. Near George’s birthplace here, a steady stream of visitors still come to say silent prayers – a testament to the bond he shared with ordinary people.
This emotional connect now forms a significant part of the appeal of the UDF-led Congress among voters across the state.
In the by-polls that followed his death, his son Chandy Oommen stepped into the political space his father had occupied for decades, securing the seat and in the process reaffirming the family’s control over the constituency.
– PTI
