What Will Be the Final Farewell for Veteran Communist Achuthanandan?

Thiruvananthapuram, July 22 (NationPress) The CPI(M) in Kerala is preparing to deliver a respectful farewell to one of the nation's most prominent and oldest Communist figures, V.S. Achuthanandan, who passed away at a private hospital on July 21. He lived to be 101 years old.

On Tuesday morning, the body of the former Chief Minister, affectionately known as VS, was transported from his son’s residence to the grand Durbar Hall located in the heart of the State Secretariat—the very seat of the administration he led from 2006 to 2011.

The state government has announced a three-day period of state mourning until July 24. An official statement confirmed that all government offices, educational institutions, autonomous bodies, public sector enterprises, and establishments governed by the Negotiable Instruments Act will remain closed on Tuesday. During the mourning period, the National Flag will be displayed at half-mast on all government buildings across Kerala.

The final rites will take place in Alappuzha, VS’s hometown, on Wednesday, with a public holiday declared in the district.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was the first to pay his respects by laying a wreath on the coffin of his long-time colleague, with whom he shared a complex relationship.

Numerous senior CPI(M) leaders, including General Secretary M.A. Baby—who served as the Education Minister in VS's cabinet, former General Secretary Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat, and many others, also paid their final tributes.

Outside the hall, long lines formed as a significant number of individuals arrived early to pay their respects.

Regardless of age, all expressed a shared sentiment: there will never be another leader like VS, marking an irreplaceable loss for Kerala.

State Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian, who arrived late last night after coordinating final arrangements in Alappuzha, stated, “Given that Alappuzha is my home district, I have been entrusted with overseeing everything. Originally, we planned to hold the public reception at the Town Hall, but recognizing the need for more space, we decided to set up a pandal by the seashore.”

“The hearse carrying VS will depart for Alappuzha around 2 p.m. and is expected to arrive by approximately 7 p.m. It will be displayed at our party office and his residence. On Wednesday, the body will be transported to the seashore before proceeding to the cremation ground at Valiyachudukad, with the pyre anticipated to be lit around 4 p.m.,” Cherian added.

Achuthanandan was the last surviving founding member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), established in 1964 after a split from the CPI.

He and a group of comrades famously exited the original Communist Party of India, marking a significant ideological shift.

He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.