VS Achuthanandan, former Kerala chief minister and veteran CPM leader, dies at 101
Last surviving founding member of CPI(M) had been under intensive care since June 23
Dubai: V.S. Achuthanandan, Kerala’s prominent Communist leader and former chief minister, passed away in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, July 21. He was 101.
The veteran leader had been undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of SUT Hospital since June 23, following a cardiac arrest.
Achuthanandan was the last surviving member of the original group that broke away from the Communist Party of India (CPI) in 1964 to form the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
According to local media reports, V.S. Achuthanandan died at 3.20 pm at SUT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, where he had been under intensive care since June 23 following a cardiac arrest. Despite being on life-saving medication, his condition remained critical until the end.
His body will be taken to Alappuzha on Tuesday, and the last rites will be held on Wednesday.
Three-day mourning declared
The state government has declared a public holiday on Tuesday, July 22, and three days of official mourning. All government offices, public sector undertakings, educational institutions, and autonomous bodies will remain closed. Banks across the state will also remain shut.
From Punnapra to power: A political life rooted in struggle
Born in 1923 in Punnapra, Alappuzha — home to one of Kerala’s earliest communist uprisings—Achuthanandan was the son of Sankaran and Accamma.
He joined the Communist movement early and was part of the historic split from the Communist Party of India (CPI) in 1964 to form the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was the last surviving founding member of CPI(M).
Leader, organiser, dissenter
Achuthanandan entered the CPI(M) Politburo in 1985 but stepped down in 2009 following ideological rifts and unresolved disputes within the party leadership.
Despite early electoral defeats—beginning with his first attempt from Ambalappuzha in 1965 — he went on to become one of the party’s most recognisable and charismatic mass leaders.
He represented Ambalappuzha, Mararikulam, and Malampuzha constituencies in the Kerala Assembly, before stepping away from electoral politics in 2016.
Chief minister, opposition leader, reformist voice
A stalwart of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Achuthanandan served as Leader of the Opposition from 2001 to 2006, known for his piercing critiques of the A.K. Antony-led UDF government. In 2006, he led the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to a resounding victory and became Chief Minister, serving until 2011.
As chief minister, his notable initiatives included:
Anti-encroachment drives in Munnar
Land acquisition for the Vallarpadam terminal
Launch of Kollam IT Park and Cherthala Infopark
Push for Kannur Airport
Efforts to reclaim paddy fields
Crackdowns on the illegal lottery mafia
He played a major role in implementing the Land Reforms Act, especially post the Alappuzha declaration of 1970, which became a turning point in his political career.
Even in defeat, he remained a force—almost steering the LDF to another win in 2011.
Admired by first-time voters and respected across party lines, Achuthanandan earned a reputation for being uncompromising, grounded, and fiercely populist—qualities that rarely survive political longevity.
A quiet farewell
Achuthanandan had withdrawn from active politics in 2019 due to age and health issues. On Monday afternoon, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI(M) State Secretary M.V. Govindan, and senior leaders visited the hospital to pay their respects.
Achuthanandan leaves behind a legacy of uncompromising politics, fiery speeches, and a deep connection with Kerala’s grassroots Left movement— one that spanned more than five decades.
— With inputs from IANS, ANI
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