Kakkanad – Late Shri. Oommen Chandy was "a leader par excellence among politicians", said Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church in his condolence letter.

Cardinal George Alencherry recalled that the ex-Chief Minister of Kerala was also "a Leader of leaders". He expressed his deep condolences to the late leader via a video message also.

The full text of Cardinal George Alencherry’s condolence letter follows.

"It is with deep sorrow that I offer my condolences at the passing away of Shri. Oommen Chandy. The impression that he has made on the minds of the people of Kerala through his service as the Chief Minister, the leader of the Opposition and the longest-serving MLA is deep and unforgettable. He loved the people of Kerala with his whole heart. The people of Kerala responded to him with the same deep affection. He loved Puthuppally, his home land, deeply and sincerely. He was a political leader of great integrity and magnanimity and was held in great esteem by the people of Kerala.

Shri. Oommen Chandy was a leader par excellence among politicians. He was a Leader of leaders. He was unbelievably successful in eliciting the cooperation of leaders of differing political ideologies and never bore any grudges against his political opponents.

He always found solutions for all the intractable problems of life through his deep faith in God and lived in peace, offering all the problems to the will of God. The people of his homeland, Puthuppally, the people of Kerala and his great circles of friends will keep alive in their hearts the sweet memory of this great leader who was generous and compassionate and loved the poor with his whole heart. I offer my homage to the memory of this great leader of the people. May the Lord bless him and give him eternal rest!

Former Chief Minister of Kerala and senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy (79) passed away during the early hours of Tuesday at a private hospital in Bengaluru while undergoing treatment.