Former Kerala Chief Minister and CPM veteran VS Achuthanandan died on Monday at the age of 101. He was seriously ill for the past few days and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kerala after suffering a cardiac arrest last month.
Veteran CPI(M) leader and former Kerala CM V.S. Achuthanandan passes away. He was undergoing treatment in a private hospital after a cardiac arrest.
(Pic: Kerala Assembly website) pic.twitter.com/RceeJSutbT---Advertisement---— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2025
Achuthanandan had the distinction of becoming the country’s most senior Chief Minister at the age of 82. He held the post of Chief Minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011. Apart from this, he was also the leader of the opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly for about a decade and a half.
He was the last surviving member of the founding members who broke away from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and founded the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM).
As chief minister, Achuthanandan initiated several key schemes, including a drive to remove encroachments from Munnar, promotion of free-software in the public education system, infrastructure projects such as the Vallarpadam container terminal and expansion of Technopark.
Achuthanandan was born in a simple labourer family in Alappuzha. He quit his studies at an early age and started working in a coir factory. He later established himself through active participation in trade unions and the leftist movement.
He played a key role in land reform movements, the Pannapra-Vayalar uprising and the formation of the CPM in 1964. He later became the party’s state secretary and was then inducted into the politburo.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted about it on his X handle and wrote “Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives, many of them young students, in a tragic air crash in Dhaka. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We pray for the swift recovery of those injured. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance.”
Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives, many of them young students, in a tragic air crash in Dhaka. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We pray for the swift recovery of those injured. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 21, 2025
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