Thousands pay respects at Durbar Hall in TVM; Final journey to Alappuzha to begin after 2 pm

Thiruvananthapuram: The public were seen bidding a tearful farewell to revolutionary leader VS Achuthanandan on Tuesday as his body was kept at the Secretariat Durbar Hall for public viewing from 9 am. VS is returning to the Secretariat 14 years after he stepped down as the Kerala CM in 2011.

Prominent leaders including Governer Rajendra Arlekar, CM Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby, CPM State Secretary MV Govindan, senior CPM leaders Prakash Karat and Brinda Karat, KPCC President Sunny Joseph and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, and BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar were among those who arrived to pay their respects.

Actor and CPI(M) MLA Mukesh, dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi, and businessman Yusuff Ali also arrived at Durbar Hall to pay obeisance to the leader of the masses.

Governer Rajendra Arlekar stated how the ex-CM was the rare kind of human everyone loved irrespective of their political affiliation.

BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar said VS was a people’s leader and that his death was a huge loss for both the state and the entire nation.

KPCC President Sunny Joseph and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also paid their last respects.

Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar recollected how VS was the most popular leader Kerala has ever seen, being at the forefront of every struggle. His death marks the end of a significant chapter in Kerala politics, Ganesh Kumar said.

MLA MM Mani stated that VS’s passing leaves a void that cannot be filled, adding how he always fought for the truth and fearlessly opposed wrongdoings.

Lulu Group Chairman MA Yusuff Ali also arrived to pay tribute.

Mar Baselious Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum, said that VS was a leader who understood the common man’s pain and hardship. The Archbishop wished that VS’s memory remain in people’s minds as an inspiration.

Pinarayi Vijayan and MV Govindan also arrived at VS’s residence, Velikkakathu house, to console his wife, Vasumathi, and their children.

He will be taken to his home in Punnapra, Alappuzha, via the national highway at 2 pm in a mourning procession.

On Wednesday, the public would be able to pay their respects at the Alappuzha District Committee Office for public viewing.

Later, his mortal remains will be kept at the Alappuzha Police Recreation Ground for the public to pay homage. He will be cremated at 3 pm at Valiya Chudukadu burial ground.

The ex-CM was hospitalised for over three weeks

VS passed away on Monday evening while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, prominent ministers and CPM leaders were present at the hospital.

Later, his body was taken to the AKG Study Center in Thiruvananthapuram for public to pay their last respects, after which he was taken to his son’s home in Velikkakathu in Thiruvananthapuram.

After the public homage at the district committee office in Alappuzha on Wednesday morning, the decision is to hold the funeral in the afternoon. The government has declared a three-day official mourning from July 22 and a public holiday on Tuesday.