CPI M Pays Tribute to V S Achuthanandan, Hails Revolutionary Legacy

New Delhi: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday paid rich tributes to veteran leader and former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, who passed away in Thiruvananthapuram earlier in the day. He was 101.

In a statement issued by the Polit Bureau, the party expressed profound grief over the death of one of its most iconic figures, describing him as “an outstanding leader and pillar of the communist movement.”

Achuthanandan, widely referred to simply as VS, died at 3:20 pm following a prolonged illness. The CPI M described him as a committed organiser who was instrumental in building the trade union movement in Kerala, beginning with organising coir workers at Aspinwal Company where he was once employed.

VS joined the Communist Party in 1940 at the age of 17. Recognised by communist pioneer P Krishna Pillai for his abilities, he was assigned to mobilise agricultural labourers in the Kuttanad region. During the historic Punnapra-Vayalar uprising against the Diwan of Travancore, VS went underground and was later arrested. He endured brutal custodial torture during his imprisonment.

The Polit Bureau recalled his rise in the party ranks, being elected to the State Committee of the united Communist Party in 1956 and to the National Council in 1958. In 1964, he was one of the 32 National Council members, and one of seven from Kerala, who left the unified party to form the CPI M. He was inducted into the newly formed Central Committee that year and later became a member of the Polit Bureau in 1985.

From 1980 to 1991, VS served as the Secretary of the Kerala State Committee of the CPI M. Due to advancing age, he was relieved from the Central Committee in 2022, after serving as a Special Invitee.

In the electoral arena, Achuthanandan was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly seven times. He served two terms as Leader of the Opposition and held the office of Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011. “His tenure as Chief Minister was marked by several legislative and administrative measures for the welfare of the working people,” the statement noted.

With an association with the communist movement that spanned more than eight and a half decades, VS was a witness to and architect of the steady growth of Left politics in Kerala. The party described him as a masterful public speaker who had an unmatched ability to connect with the people.

“Known for his austere lifestyle and unwavering commitment to social justice, V S Achuthanandan has left an indelible mark on Kerala politics,” the Polit Bureau said, adding that his demise is “a grievous loss” to the party and the larger communist movement.

“The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) dips its red banner in salute to V S Achuthanandan. It conveys its heartfelt condolences to his wife, son, and daughter,” the statement said.