Veteran CPM leader and former Kerala Chief Minister, VS Achuthanandan, passed away on Monday at the age of 101, following a prolonged hospitalization. Achuthanandan had been receiving treatment at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram since June 23, after he suffered a suspected cardiac arrest at home. He had been in the ICU, on ventilator support, for an extended period before his death.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM state secretary MV Govindan rushed to the hospital to meet with Achuthanandan’s family and speak to the attending doctors. A steady stream of political leaders has begun arriving at the hospital to pay their respects to the iconic leader.

Achuthanandan, a towering figure in Kerala’s political landscape, had spent the last few years alternating between staying with his son and daughter in Thiruvananthapuram, following his resignation as the Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Committee in January 2021.

Achuthanandan’s populist political style and uncompromising nature won him admiration across party lines. He served as the Leader of the Opposition in Kerala from 2001 to 2006, during which he spearheaded efforts against the UDF government led by AK Antony. In 2006, he led the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) to victory and became the Chief Minister of Kerala, serving from 2006 to 2011.

Although Achuthanandan came close to securing a second term as Chief Minister in the 2011 elections, his LDF government lost narrowly to the UDF led by Oommen Chandy. Despite the loss, Achuthanandan remained a significant figure in Kerala’s politics, continuing to influence the state’s political discourse. The passing of VS Achuthanandan marks the end of an era in Kerala politics. His legacy as a leader who remained steadfast in his beliefs and committed to the people of Kerala will continue to be remembered for generations.