Chandy goes online on Facebook, chats with voters

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy used social networking site Facebook’s ‘live broadcast’ feature to reach out to voters in the poll-bound state, perhaps becoming the first CM to utilise the platform to interact with electorate.

Chandy, who interacted live with people from different walks of life for 30 minutes from 9 pm on Monday, was a big hit with people, who asked questions on issues ranging from controversial topics like exempting Vigilance department from the RTI’s purview, ‘Karuna and Metran Kayal’ land deals, Kochi Metro rail and Kannur airport projects, among others.

Chandy said the Kannur airport would be commissioned on November 1 and commercial operations would start soon after. 

He said the platform was an ideal venue to interact as the biggest strength of democracy.

He urged people to support the phased ban on alcohol in the state. 

The United Nations has lauded him for his much-acclaimed Mass Contact Programme, which saw him directly engaging with people in the state to address their grievances, and he won the United Nations Public Service Award in 2013 for the programme.

The Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in Kerala on May 16. 

Chandy had crossed swords with KPCC chief VM Sudheeran over the issue of accepting basic tax for 833 acres from Karuna Private estate at Nelliyampathy in Palakkad and had backed Revenue minister Adoor Prakash on the matter.