Legendary CPI(M) leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala VS Achuthanandan turns 100 today….reports Asian Lite News
Last of the living legends of the Left, V.S. Achuthanandan, who was one of the 34 Communist Party of India members who walked out of the party in 1964 to form the CPI-M, turned 100 on Friday.
Achuthanandan, popularly known as VS to all, has, for the past four years, slipped out of public glare and is living quietly at the house of his son in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
The party workers of CPIM are celebrating Achuthanandan’s 100th birthday across the state by distributing sweets and cutting cakes. However, due to his health condition, the workers may not be allowed to meet him.
Kerala governor Arif Muhammad Khan, CM Pinarayi Vijayan, opposition leader VD Satheesan, ministers, MLAs, and others also extended their birthday wishes to VS Achuthanandan.
“Hearty greetings and best wishes to former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan on his 100th birthday. I join the people of Kerala in wishing the beloved and respected people’s leader good health and happiness”, Governor Khan posted on X.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also extended his wishes and said that the role played by the former chief minister in transforming Kerala is undeniable.
“Comrade VS Achuthanandan’s life has travelled along with the history of modern Kerala. The role played by leaders, including VS in transforming Kerala into today’s Kerala is undeniable. He has stood with the lower classes throughout his life. Therefore, the centenary of VS is an occasion of joy and pride not only for the labour movements, progressive movements, and the Communist Party but also for the entire country. Happy birthday to Comrade VS”, the Chief Minister said.
Chief Minister from 2006-11, he was the Leader of Opposition in the previous five years. He was the opposition leader three times, served as CPIM party secretary three times, and was a CPI (M) political bureau member for long periods.
Though it was he who led the CPI-M led Left at the 2016 Assembly polls, Pinarayi Vijayan stepped in to take over as the Chief Minister much against the wishes of Achuthanandan and those supporting him.
While Vijayan was sworn in, Achuthanandan was given the chairmanship of the Administrative Reforms Commission – a cabinet-level post which he held till age caught up with him. He stepped down during the fag end of the first Vijayan government and after that he has practically been indoors.
Born on 20 October 1923 to Sankaran and Accamma in Punnapra, Alappuzha, Achuthanandan was in the forefront of the land struggles in Kerala starting with the Alappuzha declaration in 1970 demanding implementation of the Land Reforms Act passed by the EMS Government in 1967.
He was sworn in as Chief Minister of Kerala on 18 May 2006, with his 21-member cabinet. Aged 82 years and 7 months at time, he was the oldest Chief Minister of Kerala, and one of the oldest in the whole of India.
Achuthanandan initiated various actions as the Chief Minister, including the demolition drive in Munnar which claimed back acres of illegally occupied land, the demolition drive in Kochi M. G. Road which claimed back the long lost shoulder of the road, anti-piracy drive against film-piracy, his struggle against the Lottery mafia in the state.
He was keen on upholding communist principles while holding various positions as Chief Minister, legislature, or opposition leader. Even though he was criticised by his party for mission to remove land encroachments in Munnar, the common-party workers had offered him support for his actions.
In 2006, under the leadership of Achuthanandan government decided to develop and operate an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), Vallarpadam. Though it is a central government project, Achuthanandan government has taken strong steps to take over land required for road and rail lines for the project. The International Container Transshipment Terminal, Kochi was inaugurated on 11 February 2011, it is the first transshipment terminal in India and the first container terminal to operate in a SEZ.