The political made way for the personal at Cliff House, official residence of the Chief Minister here, on Sunday evening as Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan came calling on Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who has been keeping indifferent health for the last few days and advised rest by doctors.
Mr. Achuthanandan’s was a surprise visit and only The Hindu was present to witness the meeting between him and the Chief Minister.
Ms. Mariamma Oommen Chandy and the Chief Minister’s son Chandy Oommen were on hand to take care of the guest, offering him tender coconut, cake and dates.
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For once, the normally taciturn Mr. Achuthanandan was all smile and concern and graciously accepted tender coconut from Ms. Chandy.
15-minute meeting
It was a meeting marked by care and concern for each other. During the 15 minutes or so they were together, Mr. Achuthanandan was the elder brother, enquiring about Mr. Chandy’s health and advising the Chief Minister to take good care of his health.
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Ayurveda treatment
Mr. Chandy has been advised rest after developing fever, back pain, and swelling on his ankle on returning to the capital after the Emerging Kerala business and investment summit at Kochi.
Mr. Chandy told the Leader of the Opposition that he was undergoing ayurvedic treatment and would have to continue with it for at least a week.
Mr. Achuthanandan was fully in agreement with him.
Ayurveda, he told the Chief Minister, was the best for ailments such as back pain that Mr. Chandy suffered from.
However, it was likely to take time for the pain to fully subside.
News about the train-car collision at Aroor in Alappuzha district came even as the two sat together and both made anxious enquiries about it and, once the Leader of the Opposition left, the Chief Minister was quickly back on the phone issuing instructions to officers down the line.