
Kerala’s chief minister dies at the age of 101; many celebrities, including the prime minister, expressed grief
Veteran CPI(M) leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala, V. S. Achuthanandan, died peacefully after a heart attack at 101, concluding a long, remarkable career in Indian politics that began under the freedom struggle and extended for more than a century. VS Achuthanandan served as the Chief Minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011. Over the years, he was elected to the state legislative assembly seven times and served three terms as the Leader of the Opposition, where his voice stood strong and unwavering. Several senior party leaders rushed to the hospital to pay their final respects and bid farewell to a towering figure in Kerala’s political history. Govindan and several other Left leaders reached the hospital to offer their respects and bid farewell to the veteran leader. Tributes also came from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and other national figures. The Kerala government announced three days of state mourning beginning July 22, during which all schools, government offices, statutory bodies, public sector units, and autonomous institutions will close. The national flag will fly at half-mast atop all government buildings across the state. PM Modi expressed condolences Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his social media platform ‘X’ to express his heartfelt condolences on the demise of former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan. Sharing his sorrow, he wrote, “I am deeply pained by the passing of Shri VS Achuthanandan. Throughout his life, he was devoted to serving the public and made a lasting impact on Kerala’s growth and progress. His legacy will always be remembered.” The Prime Minister also recalled the period when both he and Achuthanandan served as Chief Ministers, saying it brought back many memories of their time in leadership. Extending his sympathies, he added, “In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with his family and all those who admired and respected him.” Who was VS Achuthanandan? VS Achuthanandan was born on October 20, 1923, in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, marking the beginning of a life that would later leave a lasting impact on the state’s political landscape. He came from a poor family. Achutanandan’s life was full of struggle since childhood. Let us tell you that he started politics from a tailor’s shop and became the Chief Minister while fighting for the rights of laborers. He was known for his unwavering commitment to social justice. Achuthanandan dedicated his entire life to the rights of agricultural workers and laborers. He contested a total of 10 elections in his 40 years of political life, out of which he won 7. He even spent 5.6 years in jail before becoming the Chief Minister. In the year 2006, he became the Chief Minister of Kerala at the age of 82. He was the oldest person to take oath as Chief Minister in the history of India.