Thousands rush to pay last respects to Achuthanandan

Leaders paid homage to VS Achuthanandan as thousands of people thronged to pay their last respects to his body, which was lying in state on Tuesday.

- Ashraf Padanna

The former chief minister of Kerala and veteran leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) died on Monday, aged IOI, after a prolonged hospitalisation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled his longstanding relationship with Achuthanandan, which began when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.

“He devoted many years of his life to public service and Kerala's progress,” the Prime Minister wrote on X, sharing his photograph with the departed leader.

“I recall our interactions when we both served as chief ministers of our respective states. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this sad hour.”

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, described him as a “tireless voice for justice and democracy.”

“A champion of the poor and the marginalised, he upheld the values of principled politics through bold decisions - especially on issues of environmental and public welfare,” the Congress party leader said.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his colleague in the CPI(M), said a glorious era of revolutionary will and persistence had come to an end.