Veteran CPM leader, VS Achuthanandan turns 97

Thiruvananthapuram: The communist movement in India turned hundred three days ago.

Here is as an interesting segue, one of its pioneering leaders, V S Achuthanandan turns 97 on Tuesday.

The veteran leader, who spent most part of his life building up the party, is confined to his official residence Kowdiar House.

He is not receiving visitors, given the covid 19 situation and age-induced infirmities. It is going to be a quiet birthday for him, except for the greetings from admires and leaders from across political divide.

One report said only family members will take part in the celebration.

Achuthanandan, currently the chairman of the administrative reforms commission, has rarely been seen in public for over a year.

He had reportedly suffered a brain haemorrhage last October, and he has regained strength keeping up his routine life.

VS Achuthanandan was among the 32 leaders who walked out of the historical CPI national council meet in 1964 to form the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

VS started off his political life as a trade unionist and was at the forefront of land struggles and was part of some of the iconic events including Punnapra-Wayalar struggle

The former chief minister remains as the most popular CPM leader in the state, and its most effective crowd-puller too.