Former Kerala chief minister and Congress veteran Oommen Chandy, who died in Bengaluru on Tuesday after a prolonged battle against cancer, will be laid to rest without state honours as per his last wish. Chandy’s family on Wednesday informed the state government about his last wish that his funeral should be held without any state honours. The government, in turn, accepted it. He would be laid to rest at his home parish St George’s Orthodox Church at Puthuppally in Kottayam Thursday afternoon. Son Chandy Ommen said that before leaving for Germany for treatment (in November last year), "father had indicated to my mother that he should not be accorded state honours for his funeral. That is his last wish and we family members have to fulfill his wish. My mother communicated to the government regarding this last wish and the funeral will be without state honours." On Wednesday, the mortal remains of Chandy were taken from the state capital to his hometown Kottayam by road. Thousands of people thronged on both sides of the road from Thiruvananthapuram to Kottayam to pay their last respects to the departed leader. The cortege left Thiruvananthapuram at 7 am and was slated to reach Kottayam covering 140 kms by evening. However, due to the teeming crowd, the cortege could clock only 40 kms in six hours. The state cabinet meeting on Wednesday passed a condolence resolution recalling Chandy’s contributions. Chandy had played a major role in taking ahead the democratic process through his different roles in the government as well as in Congress.
