Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan, better known as V. S. Achuthanandan, is an Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011.
V S Achutanandan Former Chief Minister of Kerala
V. S. Achuthanandan: Former Chief Minister of Kerala, Communist Party of India (Marxist) - CPI(M)
Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan, better known as V. S. Achuthanandan born on 20 October 1923 (age 98 years), is an Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011.
From 2016 to 2021, V. S. Achuthanandan served as the chairman of Administrative reforms in Kerala with state cabinet rank. He was also a former 3 times Leader of the Opposition of Kerala state.
Achuthanandan was a member of the CPI(M) Politburo from 1985 until July 2009 and a mass leader of the party. V. S. stepped into politics through his trade union activities. In 1938, he joined State Congress in 1940, he became a member of the Communist Party of India (CPI).
As a Chief Minister, V. S. Achuthanandan has initiated various noticeable actions including the demolition drive in Munnar (claimed back acres of illegally occupied land), The demolition drive in Kochi M. G. Road (Claimed back the long lost shoulder of the road), Anti-piracy drive against film-piracy, etc.
Achuthanandan also took the lead in promoting free software in Kerala. Especially in adopting free software in the public education system of the state.
During 40 years political career, he was imprisoned for five years and six months and was in hiding for four and half years.
In 1957, Achuthanandan chaired as a state secretariat member, and he was the Secretary of the Kerala State Committee between 1980 and 1992. He was a member of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau since 1985 until he was removed as a party disciplinary action.
V. S. Achuthanandan is the super senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-CPI(M) in India, and he is the only living Keralite among the 32 members who left the CPI National Council in 1964 to form the CPI(M). He was a member of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau since 1985 until he was removed as a party disciplinary action.
During his long political career, he has served many positions including Kerala State Secretary of the CPI(M) between (1980 and 1992), A member of the Politburo (1985), active parliamentary politician, Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly (1967, 1970, 1991, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016), Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly (1992 to 1996, from 2001 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2016), Editor of Malayalam, Deshabhimani daily, Chief Ministerial candidate for 1996 State elections, etc.
