V S Achuthanandan, veteran Communist leader, passes away

The 101-year-old was the lone surviving member among the 32 who walked out of the undivided communist party to form the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 1964.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's former Chief Minister and the senior most CPI(M) leader of the country V S Achuthanandan died at the age of 101 in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday (July 21)

Achuthanandan was the lone surviving member among the 32 who walked out of the undivided communist party to form the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 1964.

Achuthanandan was keeping away from active politics over the last few years owing to age related ailments. He suffered a cardiac arrest on June 23 and was under critical care at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram with life support system. He was declared dead by Monday afternoon.

He leaves behind wife K Vasumathy, daughter V V Asha and son V A Arun Kumar.

VS, as he is popularly known, had served as Kerala Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011, opposition leader from 1992 to 1996, 2001 to 2006 and 2011 to 2016 and CPI(M) state secretary from 1980 to 1992.

Being an anti-corruption crusader and a no-nonsense politician, VS earned much support from the masses and even emerged as one of the biggest crowd pullers of Kerala. 

The alleged attempts by his rival camps led by Pinarayi Vijayan to deny him the Chief Minister post in 2006 had witnessed strong resentment from the ordinary people and party workers. Subsequently, the party had to fall in line.

The Achuthanandan-Pinarayi feud was an open affair that shook Kerala politics for many years with the two leaders leaving no opportunity to criticise each other openly and thereby inviting disciplinary action from the party, including removal from the politburo, on several occasions. SNC Lavalin corruption case against Vijayan and ideological issues over matters like accepting the Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan were among the reasons for the feud.

Vijayan who managed to get an upper hand in the party, used the `violation of discipline' as a key weapon against Achuthanandan who often made his differences public.

Razing of scores of illegal buildings at the ecologically sensitive hill station Munnar in Idukki, drive against the lottery mafias from other states that thrived in Kerala  and the fight against the encroachers on the forest lands of Mathikettan in Idukki were among the many bold initiatives of the no nonsense politician. 

Born at Punnapra in Alappuzha district on October 20, 1923, Achuthandan lost his father, Sankaran and mother Accamma at a very early age. He quit studies in seventh standard and started working with his elder brother at a tailoring shop. 

VS entered politics through trade union activities. He joined the communist party in 1940 and was part of the Punnapra-Vayalar struggle in 1946, a major communist uprising against princely rule. He was imprisoned on several occasions in connection with agitations of the working class, during emergency and also suffered custodial torture.

The anti-reclamation drive led by Achuthanandan against the conversion of paddy fields for cultivation of other crops had triggered a row as it led to massive destruction of crops and thereby earning the title 'vettinirathal' (chopping off) stir that invited the ire of many.

Pinarayi condoles

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the demise of the CPI(M) stalwart.

"A glorious era of revolutionary will and persistence comes to an end with the passing of our beloved Comrade V. S. Achuthanandan. His life - an illustrious saga of struggles like Punnapra-Vayalar, leadership of toiling agricultural workers, unwavering commitment as an organiser, and as an efficient administrator - remains a limitless repository of inspiration and lessons.

As a comrade and a resolute fighter of the people, Comrade VS, as he was fondly known, stands tall as a doyen of Marxist ideology, unyielding in his fight against the exploitative capitalist order. Expressing deepest sorrow at his passing and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and comrades. Adieu, and Lal Salaam, Comrade VS," Vijayan said in a post on X.