Revolutionary star and former Kerala CM VS Achuthanandan passes away

Thiruvananthapuram: Communist veteran and former Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan passed away on Monday afternoon at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He was 101.

The end came at 3.20 pm. 

The body will be taken to Alappuzha on Tuesday, and the last rites will be held on Wednesday.

He was admitted to a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram following a heart attack on June 23. He has since been in the ICU supported by life saving medications.

On Monday afternoon, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and State Secretary M.V. Govindan along with other veteran leaders visited the hospital.

"We salute Comrade V.S. Achuthanandan--an architect of Kerala's progressive journey, a voice of the voiceless, and a lifelong champion of the working class," the CPIM said in a statement.

"Red Salute to Comrade V S Achuthanandan! Veteran communist leader and Former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan passed away at the age of 101 on July 21. His life of struggle and unwavering dedication to the cause of the people will forever be an inspiration," it said.

VS has been keeping himself away from active politics since 2019. VS Achuthanandan was the oldest chief minister of Kerala, who bestrided the socio-political milieu of the state for nearly five decades. He served as Kerala CM from 2006 to 2011 and held the office of Leader of the Opposition thrice.

The leader, who entered CPM Politburo in 1985 had to leave the executive committee in 2009 due to ideological variances and unsettled disputes among the leadership. Though his political journey started with the defeat from the Ambalappuzha constituency in 1965, the later years witnessed his rise as a major crowd-puller of the party. He represented Ambalappuzha, Mararikulam and Malampuzha constituencies in the Kerala assembly till the election of 2016.

Achuthanandan was born as son of Sankaran and Accamma in 1923 in Punnapra, the land which witnessed a remarkable communist uprising in Kerala’s history. The Alappuzha declaration of 1970 turned a milestone in Achuthanandan’s political career as he spearheaded the struggles to implement the Land Reforms Act passed by the EMS-led government. The crucial achievements during Achuthanandan’s term as the chief minister include action against encroachment in Munnar, land acquisition for Vallarpadam terminal, setting up of IT park in Kollam, proposal for Kannur airport, Infopark in Cherthala, drives to claim back paddy fields, struggles against illegal lottery mafia, and so on.