Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kerala Chief Minister Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan passed away on Monday evening. He was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Achuthanandan last held public office as Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission with cabinet rank from 2016 to 2021.

As Kerala mourns the passing of one of its most enduring political figures, here is a detailed account of his life and legacy.

Born on October 20, 1923, in Punnapra, Alappuzha, to Sankaran and Accamma, Achuthanandan started his political life by organising agricultural workers in Kuttanad. This foundation shaped his life-long advocacy for farmers’ rights.

He joined the Communist Party of India in 1940 and was among the 32 leaders who broke away in 1964 to form the Communist Party of India (Marxist). In 1990, when the farmers’ welfare board was launched, he pushed to keep the 'amshadayam' (profit-sharing contribution) at just ₹2 per month, reflecting his deep concern for the farming community.

His activism led to a prison term that lasted five years and six months.

Rise to leadership

Achuthanandan became Kerala’s CPM State Secretary in 1980, serving until 1992. He was inducted into the Politburo in 1985. Elected to the Kerala Assembly six times—in 1967, 1970, 1991, 2001, 2006, and 2016—he served as Leader of the Opposition during 1992–1996, 2001–2006, and 2011–2016.

The 1996 electoral setback and later triumph

In 1996, although projected as the chief ministerial candidate, he lost the Mararikulam seat by 1,965 votes. The LDF won 80 seats, but EK Nayanar returned as chief minister.

However, in 2006, Achuthanandan made a strong comeback by defeating Satheeshan Pacheni by 20,017 votes from Malampuzha, and finally became Kerala's chief minister.

Opposition role that reshaped public image

As opposition leader from 2001 to 2006, he became a formidable public figure. He led vocal campaigns against sexual abuse, corruption, and environmental degradation. His initiatives won support from activists, environmentalists, and scholars, significantly raising his mass appeal.

Public protests override party decision in 2011

In 2011, after the party denied him a ticket, state-wide protests and social media outrage forced a reversal. He contested and won with a margin of 25,000 votes, though the LDF lost power narrowly (68-72).

In 2016, despite being 92, he campaigned energetically, winning again from Malampuzha by 27,142 votes against C Krishnakumar. Though Pinarayi Vijayan became CM, Achuthanandan remained the most recognisable face of the LDF, whose 2006 government had secured a higher vote share (48.81%) than LDF’s 2016 (43.35%) and 2021 (45.28%) showings.

A distinct voice amid party divides

His moral clarity often clashed with party leadership. During the controversy surrounding the murder of RMP leader T.P. Chandrasekharan, Achuthanandan visited the deceased leader’s widow, K.K. Rema. The image of her tearfully holding his hand became a symbolic moment of empathy in Kerala politics.

In 2015, tensions culminated when he walked out of the 21st CPM state conference in Alappuzha, highlighting the long-standing rift with Pinarayi Vijayan.

Known for ethical defiance

In the late 1960s, Achuthanandan was demoted for organising a blood donation drive for Indian soldiers during the Chinese aggression, an act that defied the party line. Despite disciplinary action, he remained the CPM’s most effective campaigner.

Legacy of public service

Even as his health declined, Achuthanandan stayed active in politics. He later retired to live with his son, V.A. Arun Kumar, in Thiruvananthapuram.

His departure follows those of other major leaders like Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Oommen Chandy. While Pinarayi Vijayan has risen as the dominant voice of the CPM, VS Achuthanandan's legacy remains irreplaceable.

A legacy etched in action

Achuthanandan's time as Chief Minister was marked by impactful initiatives—the Munnar anti-encroachment drive, anti-piracy operations, the crackdown on the lottery mafia, and demolition drives in Kochi—all testaments to his political will and public-first approach.

He remained unwavering in his commitment to the party and people, never compromising his ideals.

Achuthanandan's death closes a significant chapter in Kerala’s political history, but the legacy he leaves behind will continue to influence generations.