VS: Coir worker to Communist icon

Vellikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan, Kerala's former chief minister and one of CPI(M)'s founding leaders who galvanised party workers like no other with his acerbic oratory and who became a darling face of the masses for his bold anti-corruption crusades, died at the age of 101 at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.

- Vishnu Varma

Fondly called “VS” by his legion of supporters and party colleagues, Achuthanandan, who had faded from public life in 2021 and retreated to his son Arun Kumar's residence, was admitted to the SUT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on June 23 following a cardiac arrest. Though his condition had improved in the past week, it deteriorated rapidly on Monday leading to his death at 3.20 pm, the medical bulletin said.

The government has announced that all state government offices and educational institutions will remain closed on July 22 as a mark of respect to the former CM. A three-day period of state mourning will be observed from Tuesday.

VS' mortal remains were taken first to the AKG study centre in Thiruvananthapuram and then to his residence on Monday night. On Tuesday, the remains would be kept at the Durbar hall for the public to pay tributes through the day and then taken by procession along the national highway to Alappuzha for cremation on Wednesday. His funeral will take place at the Valiya Chudukadu near Alappuzha where several Communist icons have been cremated over the years.

President Droupadi Murmu has condoled the passing away of Achuthanandan and said that the veteran Communist leader worked for the welfare of people. “Saddened by the demise of Shri V.S. Achuthanandan Ji, former Chief Minister of Kerala and veteran Communist leader. During his long public life, he worked for the welfare of people, especially the marginalised, and contributed to the development of Kerala. I extend my deep condolences to his family and followers,” she said in a post on X.