Chandy takes bus passengers by surprise as he turns out to be one

Having lost Kerala's chief ministership in the May elections, Oommen Chandy seems to be enjoying life's small pleasures, like taking a 75 km bus ride from Kollam to the state capital.

The Congress leader was seen on Thursday taking a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus from Kollam to Thiruvananthapuram, after he missed a train to the state capital and refused an offer of a car.

The woman conductor of the bus at the Kollam bus station said she was surprised when she saw Chandy climbing in and offered him a seat behind the driver.

A member of Chandy's security staff told IANS that about 25 passengers on board were pleasantly surprised to see the former chief minister amidst them.

"As the bus moved, passengers were greeting Chandy, chatting with him and taking selfies with him," said the security officer.

"As the word spread, a number of reporters boarded the bus too. In Thiruvananthapuram, where his car was waiting, a good number of media personnel were there to greet him," said the security officer.

Incidentally, Chandy is riding on a bus almost after a decade. He said he will continue to travel by bus, but without pre-planning his journeys.

"I always love to travel on KSRTC buses, especially the faster ones, but due to my preoccupations I was unable to do so, but now I will have the time," said Chandy.

Following the dismal performance of the Congress-led UDF in the May elections, Chandy decided not to take up the post of the leader of opposition but would rather just be a legislator.

--IANS

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