Chandy Oommen accuses Congress leadership of sidelining him

Thiruvananthapuram: First-time Congress legislator Chandy Oommen, son of the late two-time Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, has voiced his dissatisfaction with the party leadership over his perceived sidelining.

Reflecting on the recent Palakkad Assembly bypoll, Chandy Oommen said that while others were assigned campaign responsibilities, he was not given any work in the party. He explained that he chose not to comment earlier and still preferred not to elaborate further. He added that he was present in Palakkad for only one day and emphasized that the leadership must work inclusively, taking everyone along as part of their responsibility.

Speaking on the ongoing debates about potential changes in state party leadership, Oommen dismissed the need to replace Kerala Congress President K. Sudhakaran. He highlighted the importance of unity and the inclusion of more young members during the party’s reorganization.

The Congress in Kerala is currently witnessing discussions about a generational shift in leadership, with some party members advocating for the 76-year-old Sudhakaran to step down. However, Sudhakaran, who represents the CPI(M)-dominated Kannur constituency in the Lok Sabha, dismissed the speculations, labeling them as media-driven chatter. He stated that there were no moves within the party to replace him and attributed the rumors to television channel discussions.

Chandy Oommen, 37, succeeded his father in Puthuppally, the Assembly constituency that Oommen Chandy represented from 1970 until his passing in 2023. In last year’s bypoll, Oommen secured a historic win with a margin of over 37,000 votes.

Since his election, Chandy Oommen has taken a reserved approach, focusing on his constituency, which continues to cherish the legacy of his father. Even more than a year after Oommen Chandy’s demise, his tomb, located in a special memorial at his home parish, remains a gathering point for people paying their respects daily.

With IANS inputs