Kerala Mourns: Tributes Pour in for Achuthanandan

Hundreds gathered outside Darbar Hall in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday to pay their respects to V S Achuthanandan, the former Chief Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader who passed away at 101. His mortal remains were brought in a procession from his son’s residence to the Secretariat for public homage, accompanied by throngs of party workers and supporters.

On Monday night, thousands, including women, the elderly, and students, visited the old AKG Centre to offer their final respects. The body was later moved to his son’s residence, where crowds gathered past midnight to honor the beloved leader. Party sources confirmed no public homage was held at the residence.

By Tuesday afternoon, Achuthanandan’s body will be taken to Alappuzha, his hometown, for cremation at the Valiya Chudukadu public crematorium by Wednesday noon. The Kerala government declared a public holiday on Tuesday and a three-day mourning period to honor his legacy.

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Achuthanandan passed away at 3:20 pm on Monday at Pattom SUT Hospital’s critical care unit, where he had been under treatment since June 23 following a cardiac arrest. A founding member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), he championed workers’ rights, land reforms, and social justice. Serving as Kerala’s Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011 and elected to the state assembly seven times, he also served three terms as Leader of the Opposition, leaving a lasting impact on Kerala’s political history.

Also Read: Legendary Kerala CM V.S. Achuthanandan Dies at 101, Leaving Epic Communist Legacy