After poll debacle, Oommen Chandy resigns as Kerala CM

The Left Democratic Front, led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), decimated the Congress in the elections, coming back to power after five years with 91 seats in the 140-seat assembly.

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy resigned from his post on Friday following the humiliating defeat his Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) suffered in the assembly election on May 19.

Oomen Chandy resigned as the chief minister of Kerala on Friday morning. (ANI)

Chandy called on governor Justice (retd) Sathasivam on Friday morning to submit his letter.

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The Left Democratic Front, led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), decimated the Congress in the elections, coming back to power after five years with 91 seats in the 140-seat assembly. The halfway mark required for a majority is 72.

Party sources said Chandy is unlikely to accept the opposition leader’s post. If that is indeed the case, outgoing home minister Ramesh Chennithala will be given the post.

Calling the setback temporary, Chandy said the party would bounce back with renewed vigor after he submitted his resignation.

“We failed to tackle the misinformation campaign unleashed by our opponents. Similarly, we failed to highlight some of the good works carried out by our government,” he said.

After the drubbing, many in the party publicly turned on their leadership.

Padmaja Venugopal, the defeated Congress candidate from Thrissur and daughter of late leader K Karunakaran, came out in the open criticising senior leaders for not fully backing her.