Piqued Chandy storms out of live TV interview

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy, miffed at aggressive questioning from the anchor of an interview being telecast live on Thursday, walked out in a huff.

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy, miffed at aggressive questioning from the anchor of an interview being telecast live on Thursday, walked out in a huff.

Forty-five minutes was the time slot for an interview granted to new Malayalam channel Reporter but the chief minister appeared to have had enough with 25 minutes still to go. The face-to-face was one of several granted to regional channels as part of his 100 Days Programme.

Chandy appeared to lose his cool after being grilled by anchor Venu on issues such as granting adivasi land to a wind power firm in Palakkad and changing a judicial commission probing a firing in Kasargode during the reign of the previous Left government.

Speaking to IANS, Chandy's office said that all were stunned to see him walk out. "Normally, he is not one to lose his cool," an official said. "But right from the beginning, the interview appeared to be a courtroom trial and we could sense his discomfort. Maybe, he did not want to create a scene, so he quietly walked out."

Chandy is preparing a progress report on his 100 Days Programme, designed on transparency, and he will be making it public on Monday.