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Kerala’s Veteran Communist Leader V.S. Achuthanandan Passes Away at 101.

Obituary | Dated: 23 Jul 2025

Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan, widely known as V.S. Achuthanandan, former Chief Minister of Kerala and senior CPI(M) leader, passed away on 21 July 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram at the age of 101, following a prolonged illness and hospitalisation

🎯 Key Highlights:

- Achuthanandan was one of the last surviving founding members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He served as Kerala’s Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011, and holds the record as the longest-serving Leader of Opposition, serving for approximately 15 years in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. He was elected to the Assembly seven times.
- Known for his unwavering integrity, V.S. spearheaded numerous campaigns against corruption, land encroachment, the lottery mafia, and film piracy. His government recovered illegally occupied land and championed free software in education—actions that earned him the public reputation of a resolute pro-people leader.

💡 Other Important Facts:

(i) Born on 20 October 1923 in a family of agricultural workers in Punnapra, Alappuzha, he began as a trade union activist in the 1940s. He joined the Communist movement in 1940, faced arrests during underground activities, and became a core leader when CPI(M) was formed in 1964.
(ii) Following a cardiac arrest in late June 2025, Achuthanandan was admitted to SUT Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. He remained on life support, with ongoing monitoring by doctors. He passed away on 21 July 2025 due to age-related illness.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Who was the senior CPI(M) leader and former Kerala Chief Minister who recently passed away at the age of 101?

Correct Answer: Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Kerala

Chief minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor: Rajendra Arlekar