KOTTAYAM: The mortal remains of the former Kerala Chief Minister and Senior Congress leader were solemnly moved from Thiruvananthapuram to his hometown in Kottayam on Wednesday, July 19.

 In a gesture of respect for Chandy, the Kerala government has declared a two-day state mourning. The 79-year-old Congress veteran passed away in Bengaluru in the early hours of Tuesday after battling cancer.

Also read Oommen Chandy, Congress Veteran and Former Chief Minister of Kerala, Passes Away

As soon as the news of the former Kerala chief minister's demise was announced by his son, numerous political leaders expressed their condolences. Prominent figures who mourned the loss of Chandy included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Congress President K Sudhakaran, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress leader Rahul, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi.

Upon the arrival of his mortal remains in Kottayam, a public homage will be held at Thirunakkara Maidan in the district. Subsequently, the mortal remains will be taken to Chandy's home in Puthupally. The final rites will be conducted at his parish church in Puthupally.

Chandy, who was born on 31 October 1943 in Puthupally, served as the chief minister of Kerala on two occasions: from 2004 to 2006 and then again from 2011 to 2016. For five decades, he represented the Puthuppally constituency.

Also read Oommen Chandy: A Political Journey Marked by Leadership and Service