Former Kerala CM VS Achuthanandan Passes Away at 101: A Life of Unwavering Commitment

Thiruvanantpuram (The Uttam Hindu): Veteran Communist leader and former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan passed away at the age of 101. He was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram after suffering a cardiac arrest on June 23. Achuthanandan was a towering figure in Kerala politics, known for his unwavering commitment to social justice and workers' rights.

Born on October 20, 1923, in Alappuzha district's Punnapra, Achuthanandan served as the Kerala Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011. He was a seven-time MLA and contested 10 elections during his political career, losing only three. Achuthanandan was one of the last surviving members of the group that founded the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 1964.

Achuthanandan's contributions to Kerala's socio-political fabric are immense. He served as the CPI(M)'s state secretary for 12 years, during which the organisation's roots grew and became a safe shore for the working classes and the marginalised. Even at the age of 93, he campaigned for LDF in the 2016 polls, winning from the Malampuzha constituency.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other CPI(M) leaders visited Achuthanandan in the hospital and paid their respects to the veteran leader. His demise marks the end of an era in Kerala politics, with his legacy continuing to inspire generations of leaders and activists.