Adv Chandy Oommen

Congress leader and sitting MLA Chandy Oommen is seeking re-election from Puthuppally, a constituency that has long been synonymous with his father, the former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, and remains a Congress bastion.

This election marks the first Assembly contest in over five decades in the constituency without Oommen Chandy in the fray. Nearly three years after his demise, his absence continues to resonate deeply with voters, making the emotional connect a key element of the Congress-led UDF’s appeal in Puthuppally.

Chandy Oommen entered electoral politics through the 2023 bypoll held after his father’s death, winning the seat with a massive margin of over 37,000 votes, significantly higher than Oommen Chandy’s own margin of around 9,000 votes in the 2021 Assembly elections. The victory reaffirmed the family’s enduring hold over the constituency.

However, Oommen is keen to demonstrate that his mandate extends beyond sympathy. He now faces CPI(M) candidate KS Radhakrishnan, who has indicated that the contest will be far from easy for the Congress leader this time.

Puthuppally, located in central Kerala, has a sizeable Christian population — particularly Syrian Christians — who have traditionally formed a strong support base for the UDF. The constituency has consistently backed the Congress, making it one of the party’s most reliable strongholds.

Oommen was not initially among the most prominent youth leaders in the party's state leadership. However, he has expressed gratitude for the opportunities given to him, saying the party has “given me everything”, from the ticket to the platform to prove himself.

Candidate Info: Adv. Chandy Oommen is the Indian National Congress (INC) candidate contesting from Puthuppally (General) Assembly constituency for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. This male candidate is 40 years of age, according to the election affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India.