Former Chief Minister to be cremated with full State honours; PM Modi and Opposition pay tribute to the last Marxist titan
The last of Kerala’s old-guard communists is gone. V.S. Achuthanandan—former Chief Minister, freedom fighter, party rebel, and a deeply loved if often misunderstood political giant—passed away on Monday at the age of 101 in Thiruvananthapuram.
Admitted to the SUT Hospital in Pattom on June 23 following a heart attack, he never quite recovered. Age-related ailments compounded his fragile condition. At 4:03 a.m. on July 21, the curtain quietly fell on a life that refused to fit neatly into slogans or manifestos.
A Man of Many Silences, And Fierce Speeches
Achuthanandan didn’t shout to be heard. And yet, when he did speak—whether in the Assembly or on the streets—it echoed across generations. A lifelong member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), he wasn’t your textbook ideologue. He disagreed openly. He paid the price. He stayed anyway.
In his later years, many young Keralites knew him less for Marxism and more as the quiet, often sharp-tongued grandpa who once took on encroachers in Munnar and spoke about internet freedom when few politicians understood what it meant.
He led Kerala as Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011. That single term was enough to cement his legend. He was 82 when he took charge, and yet, few matched his work ethic.
One sentence he often repeated: “I have no personal enemies. Just political disagreements.”
Kerala Mourns Its Stubborn Son
The state has declared full State honours for his cremation, to be held on July 23 in Thiruvananthapuram. The body will lie in state for the public to pay respects.
Tributes poured in from across party lines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted, “Saddened by the demise of Shri V.S. Achuthanandan. His long years in public life, from the freedom struggle to Kerala’s political evolution, will be remembered.”
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan called him “a man of unwavering convictions.” CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury described him as “a pillar of people’s resistance against exploitation and injustice.”
One line from the official State Government statement read: “Kerala has lost a conscience-keeper.”
From Paddy Fields to the Assembly: His Political Arc
Born in 1923 in Punnapra, Alappuzha, Achuthanandan’s journey began as a coir worker. He lost his parents early. Left school. Joined the freedom struggle. Then became a full-time communist in the 1940s.
He was jailed. Tortured. Went underground. Rose through party ranks in what was then Travancore-Cochin.
Yet he never became a politburo member. The CPI(M) hierarchy, wary of his fiercely independent views, often sidelined him. And still, he endured. Always an outsider within the inside circle.
One sentence.
He was expelled from the CPI(M)’s Politburo in 2009—while still serving as CM.
Yet, people never stopped cheering for him.
His Legacy: Both Visible and Lingering
For a man who came from nothing, Achuthanandan changed a lot in Kerala. Some of his visible legacies include:
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Anti-encroachment drive in Munnar, where he stood up to powerful resort lobbies.
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Technopark and IT development, despite being branded “anti-modern.”
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Public campaigns against corruption, including against former Minister R. Balakrishna Pillai.
He also famously opposed the arrest of Abdul Nasser Madani in 2010, refusing to bow to pressure.
But his deepest impact may be cultural. He shaped political ethics in the state—where clean image, honesty, and simplicity still matter. He rejected VVIP culture. Took a modest pension. Lived in a government quarter, never seeking luxuries.
His critics said he slowed development. His supporters argued he reminded people that development isn’t just GDP—it’s dignity too.
A Life Lived On His Own Terms
Achuthanandan’s last years were quiet. After a stroke in 2019, he withdrew from public life. He was cared for by his son V. Arun Kumar at home.
He never craved attention. Even in death, there was no grand drama. No sudden media blitz. Just a man remembered by millions—for what he did, and what he refused to do.
Here’s a short timeline of some key moments:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1923 | Born in Alappuzha |
| 1940s | Joined Communist Party, went underground |
| 2006 | Became Chief Minister of Kerala at 82 |
| 2009 | Removed from CPI(M) Politburo |
| 2011 | Retired as CM, continued as elder statesman |
| 2019 | Suffered stroke, retired from public life |
| 2025 | Passed away at 101 |
One former colleague, speaking anonymously, said, “VS was never easy to work with. But you always knew he was working for people—not for himself.”
Political Class Reflects, People Remember
Kerala’s political space feels emptier today. Not just because a leader died, but because a symbol disappeared.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, often seen as Achuthanandan’s rival within the CPI(M), said: “Despite differences, I have always respected Comrade VS for his immense contribution to the Left movement.”
Across party lines, from the Congress’s Shashi Tharoor to BJP’s Kummanam Rajasekharan, the tributes felt heartfelt.
Outside the SUT hospital, an old man sobbed quietly. “He stood with us when nobody did,” he told a reporter.
In a state often polarized by party colors, that says something rare.
