Kochi: Veteran communist leader V S Achuthanandan turned 101 on Sunday.
Retired from politics for some years now, the former Chief Minister, popularly known as ‘VS, is under complete rest, according to his son, V A Arun Kumar.
Doctors have advised limited visitors to meet him.
VS was Leader of the Opposition, CPM state secretary, Polit Bureau member, LDF convener among others.
He is also one of the last surviving founding 32 leaders who formed CPM by walking out of the CPI in 1964 over ideological differences.
He was the oldest leader to become chief minister at the age of 82 years in 2006. Achuthanandan’s mission to evict encroachments across the state sent his popularity to the crescendo during his tenure.
As the Chief Minister he took strong action against film piracy, lottery mafia, and promoted free software. His government was instrumental in developing country’ maiden central project International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) in Kochi. His government promoted IT parks in different districts, executed the Mobility Hub in Kochi. Approval for Kannur International airport, Kochi metro were given during his tenure. Achuthanandan was the first Chief Minister to trek Sabarimala hill shrine at the age of 84.
Photo Credit: X
