Oommen Chandy leads 3-km long 'padayatra' at the age of 79

Vaikkom: Oommen Chandy led a 'padayatra' (rally) of 3 kilometres at the age of 79 and has become a source of awe for many. He encouraged others who took part in the rally and waved to the people standing on either side of the road waiting for the arrival of the padayatra. 

The District Congress Committee decided to organise the Jan Jagran Abhiyan Padayatra in Vaikom as per the instructions of AICC. The rally was held as a protest against the price hike of cooking gas, fuels, and other consumables. When AICC General Secretary Oommen Chandy was chosen to lead the padayatra, there were concerns about his age and whether he would be able to walk that long at his age. All that concern proved baseless when the padayatra led by him successfully reached its destination at the Vaikom boat jetty.

The padayatra started from Udayanapuram temple at 4.30 pm and reached the Vaikom boat jetty at 6.40 pm. MP K Muraleedharan handed over the flag to lead the padayatra and inaugurated the closing ceremony. He was accompanied by leaders including former ministers K C Joseph and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, MPs K Muraleedharan and Anto Antony, Youth Congress State president Shafi Parambil and DCC president Nattakom Suresh.