27 Jan 2012, 1156 hrs IST

Kerala News: Chennai, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today paid glowing tributes to the Governor of his state and former Pondicherry Chief Minister M O H Farooq, who passed away at a corporate hospital here last night, describing the death as a great loss to country s politics.

In a brief chat with newspersons here at the aiport, Mr Chandy, who was on his way to Puducherry to attend the funeral along with some of his cabinet colleagues and high officials, said Farooq had served with distinction whatever the post he held in 50 years of his public life. He said Farooq had served in many key posts, including Kerala Governor and Chief Minister of Puducherry.

He said the Kerala government wanted to take his body back to the state and lay him to rest with full state honours. But as this was not possible, he was going to Puducherry to pay his last respects, he added. Mr Chandy said the Kerala government had also declared seven days of state mourning for Farooq.