Will you contest in elections again? Oommen Chandy laughed, then gave his reply

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Oommen Chandy completed 18728 days as a member of the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday based on the date of formation of the Legislative Assembly. He is now the longest-serving member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly by breaking the late KM Mani's record. If we look at the date of swearing-in, technically the record will be broken on the 11th of this month.

The Assembly Secretary handed over the House's recognition to Oommen Chandy at his house in Jagathi. Speaker's private secretary Manoharan Nair was also present. Oommen Chandy responded that he is fully satisfied with the positions he has received so far. He said that the people of Puthupally deserve the recognition. The answer to the question whether he will contest the elections again was just a long laugh. It was followed by the usual answer that everything should be decided by the party.

Oommen Chandy first became a member of the Legislative Assembly from Puthupally in Kottayam district in 1970. Elections to the 4th Kerala Legislative Assembly were held on 17th September 1970. Counting of votes was on the next day. It was then that the Puthupally constituency, which had been with the Left until then, shifted in favour of Congress. The fourth Kerala Legislative Assembly came into existence on October 4, 1970. Until 2021, Oommen Chandy won his ticket to the Legislative Assembly by winning from Puthupally alone for 12 consecutive times. He has been the Chief Minister of the state twice, Leader of the Opposition once and Minister four times. The fifteenth Kerala Legislative Assembly was formed on May 3, 2021.