Thiruvananthapuram, July 21: V.S. Achuthanandan, veteran Communist leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala, passed away on Monday at the age of 101. He had been receiving treatment at a private hospital following a cardiac arrest.
In a heartfelt tribute, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said, “We salute Comrade V.S. Achuthanandan — an architect of Kerala’s progressive journey, a voice for the voiceless, and a lifelong fighter for the working class.” The party added, “Red Salute to Comrade V.S. Achuthanandan! His life of struggle and unwavering commitment to the people’s cause will remain a lasting inspiration.”
Born Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan, he served as Kerala’s Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011. A founding member of the CPI(M), he was one of the longest-serving opposition leaders in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, holding the post for 15 years across three separate terms: 1992–1996, 2001–2006, and 2011–2016.
Achuthanandan also held key leadership roles within the party, serving as the Secretary of the CPI(M)’s Kerala State Committee from 1980 to 1992, and as the LDF convener from 1996 to 2000.
A towering figure in Kerala’s political landscape, his legacy is deeply etched in the state’s history of social justice and progressive reforms.
Tags: prameyanews
