Body of VS taken as funeral cortege to Alappuzha; slogans shouted

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The body of former chief minister V S Achuthanandan has been taken to Alappuzha as a funeral cortege. It started at 2.15 pm as scheduled. Prominent figures from the political, social and cultural fields came to pay their last respects to the beloved leader at the public homage held at the Secretariat's Durbar Hall. People thronged buildings and other places near the Secretariat for a glimpse of their leader for the last time.

Party activists shouted slogans when his body was taken out from the Durbar Hall. There will be public homage at 27 points in Thiruvananthapuram and 17 points in Kollam. CPM leaders said the cortege is likely to reach Alappuzha by night.