Freedom Fighter and Former Kerala CM V.S. Achuthanandan Passes Away at 101
Thiruvananthapuram, 21 July – (www.deccanlive.com): V.S. Achuthanandan, a veteran leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and former Chief Minister of Kerala, passed away on Monday at a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He was 101 years old.
Achuthanandan was one of the founding members of the CPI(M) and served as the Chief Minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011. He was known for his simple lifestyle. During the Indian freedom struggle, he was imprisoned in 1946.
He had been hospitalized since June 23 after suffering a heart attack. For years, he had been battling age-related health issues. After the 1964 split in the Communist Party, he played a major role in forming the CPI(M). In his political career, he contested 10 elections and won 7 of them.
Achuthanandan began his political journey as a trade unionist. He worked extensively for toddy tappers and agricultural laborers. His full name was Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan. He served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly for 15 years. From 1985 to 2009, he was also a member of the CPM Politburo.
Why He Was Sent to Jail
In 1946, he was a leading figure in the Punnapra-Vayalar revolt. As a result, he spent five years in jail. Even after his release, he remained underground for several years. He was born on October 20, 1923, in Alappuzha. In his early days, he worked at a tailor’s shop to pay for his education. Over his 80-year-long political career, he was known as a strong voice of the Left movement.
