Veteran Kerala Leader VS Achuthanandan Dies at 101, Prompting State Mourning

Thiruvananthapuram: Vellikakath Sankaran Achuthanandan, a prominent Communist leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala, passed away on Monday, July 21, 2025, at the age of 101, according to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). Achuthanandan, born on October 20, 1923, in Punnapra, Alappuzha district, served as Kerala’s Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011. The state government expressed deep sorrow, announcing a three-day mourning period until July 24, during which the National Flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings across Kerala.

In a statement, the Kerala government declared that all state offices, educational institutions, public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies, and establishments under the Negotiable Instruments Act will remain closed on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, as a mark of respect. Achuthanandan had been under medical care at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram since June 23, following a cardiac arrest, with his condition reported as critical in the days leading up to his death.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his condolences on X, stating, “Saddened by the passing of former Kerala CM Shri VS Achuthanandan Ji. He devoted many years of his life to public service and Kerala’s progress. I recall our interactions when we both served as Chief Ministers of our respective states. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this sad hour.” Achuthanandan, a seven-time MLA, had a storied political career, serving as CPI(M) state secretary from 1980 to 1992 and remaining active in politics until a stroke in October 2019 limited his public appearances. He was a founding member of the CPI(M) in 1964, following a split from the Communist Party of India, and won his final election in 2016 from Malampuzha at the age of 93.