In a state known for political theatre, V. S. Achuthanandan remained refreshingly unscripted — a leader whose moral authority often outshone official power.
V. S. Achuthanandan, the iconic Marxist leader, lifelong crusader for social justice, and a towering presence in Kerala’s political life for over seven decades, passed away on Monday at the age of 101. His death marks the end of a generation of Communist leaders shaped by the hardships of colonial India and hardened by lifelong activism.
The veteran leader had been in a critical condition since suffering a cardiac arrest at his son’s residence on June 23. Despite the efforts of a medical team and prolonged support on a ventilator, he breathed his last surrounded by close family. His passing was formally announced by hospital authorities in the presence of senior state officials and Communist Party leaders.
Born on October 20, 1923, in Alappuzha’s Punnapra village, Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan came from a humble background. Orphaned at age 11, he left school to work in a tailoring shop and later joined a coir factory — early brushes with poverty that sowed the seeds of his lifelong political radicalism. He became active in the trade union movement in the 1930s and joined the Communist Party of India in 1940, embarking on a path from which he would never waver.
A founding member of the CPI(M) following the 1964 split, Achuthanandan spent nearly two decades underground or in jail during various periods of political repression. He rose through the ranks to become state secretary of the Kerala unit and a long-serving member of the party’s Politburo. Often described as the party’s moral conscience, he was known for his plain-speaking, integrity, and unshakeable dedication to the poor.
Achuthanandan was elected Chief Minister of Kerala in 2006 at the age of 82 — a rare political comeback after being initially denied a ticket by his own party. As CM until 2011, he launched high-profile campaigns against land encroachments in Munnar, took on the lottery mafia and real estate cartels, and promoted free software in schools. His government was widely credited with cracking down on corruption and setting a new tone for governance.
His personal style — always in a white khadi mundu, unpolished sandals, and a face marked by a time-worn expression — was as much a symbol of his politics as his words. He neither sought nor exuded glamour. Yet his blunt speeches, dry wit, and defiant presence at protest rallies often made him a cult figure, especially among Kerala’s youth and reform-minded voters.
In the Kerala Assembly, he served as Leader of the Opposition three times, and after stepping down as CM, was appointed Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission in 2016 — a role he held until 2021.
Despite his immense popularity, Achuthanandan frequently clashed with the CPI(M) leadership, particularly over issues of ethics and corruption. In 2009, he was dropped from the Politburo, but retained his influence in the party and among the public. His principled stands — whether on political violence, intra-party democracy, or transparency — often put him at odds with the establishment but endeared him to ordinary citizens.
He is survived by his wife K. Vasumathy, son V. A. Arun Kumar, and daughter V. V. Asha.
In a state known for political theatre, V. S. Achuthanandan remained refreshingly unscripted — a leader whose moral authority often outshone official power. His life was not one of easy victories, but of relentless struggle, marked by clarity, courage, and conviction. With his passing, Kerala has lost one of its most authentic voices — and the Left movement one of its most enduring warriors.
