Kerala commemorates Achuthanandan's first death anniversary

Kerala observed the first death anniversary of veteran CPI(M) leader and former Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan with statewide tributes, including a memorial inauguration at the cremation site in Alappuzha attended by party leaders and thousands of workers. The memorial at Valiya Chudukad was designed by architect G Shankar, with public remembrance meetings and organised marches across the state led by CPI(M) members and local committees. Premier party figures highlighted Achuthanandan’s enduring legacy as a stalwart of Kerala’s socialist movement, from his early days as a Punnapra-Vayalar fighter to his long leadership roles in the CPM and LDF. Former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other leaders described him as a defining figure whose life embodied secular values, fearless advocacy for the oppressed, and vigilance in protecting public assets and resources. Across tributes, reporters noted Achuthanandan’s years as Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011 and his record as the longest-serving opposition leader in Kerala’s Assembly. His death in 2025 at the age of 101 was repeatedly recalled as a turning point that shaped Kerala’s political conscience for generations.