How one constituency revived Kerala's fiercest communist voice

IN 1996, when V S Achuthanandan suffered a shocker in Mararikulam just as he stood on the brink of becoming Kerala's CM, it almost appeared his political career was over.

- SHYAM P V @Palakkad

However, five years later, Malampuzha, a quiet constituency in Palakkad, gave him a second wind, a turnaround that went on to define not only his legacy, but also Kerala's Left politics.

The phrase Kulam kaivitta VS ne puzha rakshappeduthi—the river (Malampuzha) saved VS when he was abandoned by the pond (Mararikulam)—captures the emotional and political shift that occurred in 2001. That year, Achuthanandan contested from Malampuzha and won, beginning an extraordinary chapter in electoral politics that lasted two decades.

Between 2001 and 2016, he secured four straight wins from the constituency, defeating prominent Congress and BJP leaders, including Satheesan Pacheni (twice), Latika Subhash, and finally BJP's C Krishnakumar with record margins.