The National Congress Party (NCP) State president and Kerala MLA representing Kuttanad, Thomas Chandy, passed away at his home in Kochi on Friday.
Mr. Chandy was 72-years old and was battling with cancer. He is survived by his wife Mercy and three daughters.
Mr. Chandy served as Transport Minister in the current Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government for almost seven months in 2017. He was also closely associated with Kerala Students Union (KSU) and later with the Congress.
When former Kerala Chief Minister K. Karunakaran parted ways with the Congress and formed the Democratic Indira Congress (K), Mr. Chandy chose to stay with him.
Later, Mr. Chandy joined the NCP and became its only legislator in 2006. With NCP being part of the Left front since 2011, Mr. Chandy represented Kuttanad thrice. But his stint as Transport Minister was far from easy, with allegations of land grab and lake reclamation which eventually saw him step down.
Mr. Chandy also had built a business empire in the Persian Gulf.
