Former Kerala CM V S Achuthanandan's Final Journey Delayed by Mourning Crowds

Alappuzha (Kerala), Jul 23 (PTI) — The mortal remains of former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan reached his hometown of Alappuzha early Wednesday morning, arriving significantly later than expected. An overwhelming number of mourners from diverse backgrounds, paying their respects to the Marxist leader, caused delays in the final journey of this stalwart, known for his unwavering advocacy for the working class throughout his extensive eight-decade political career.

The bus carrying Achuthanandan's body departed from Thiruvananthapuram for the coastal town around 2 PM on Tuesday afternoon and only reached Alappuzha district by 6:45 AM on Wednesday. The journey, covering approximately 150 kilometers, typically takes over four hours, but was delayed considerably due to the large turnout of ordinary citizens and dedicated admirers who stationed themselves along the route to bid a final farewell.

In spite of the night and rainfall, thousands of people lined the roads, flowers in hand, to pay their tributes. His cremation is set to occur later in the day at the public crematorium at Valiya Chudukadu, according to party sources.

The veteran leader passed away at 3:20 PM on Monday while undergoing treatment in the critical care unit of Pattom SUT Hospital, where he had been treated since June 23 following a cardiac arrest. A founding member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Achuthanandan was a steadfast advocate for workers’ rights, land reforms, and social justice.

He was Kerala's Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011 and was elected to the state assembly seven times, with three terms as Leader of the Opposition.

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