Thousands turn up to bid adieu to VS Achuthanandan; Former Kerala CM cremated in Punnapra with full state honours

ALAPPUZHA: Former chief minister of Kerala and chieftain of the CPM party, VS Achuthanandan, was cremated with full honours in Alappuzha amidst drizzle on a cold Wednesday night. VS was laid to rest among other martyrs of the Punnapra Vayalar revolt. Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan lived his life to the fullest, as he was destined enough to witness the reality of what he envisioned as the party which he led from the front during the 1950s emerged from nothing to grab power in the state of Kerala.

VA Arunkumar, son of Achuthanandan, lit the funeral pyre, amidst reverberating slogans from people hailing the veteran leader.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, among other prominent leaders, were present during the last rite ceremony. V.S. passed away at 3.20 pm on Monday at S.U.T. Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He died after undergoing treatment for about a month. The veteran leader was 101.

The funeral cortege, which started at 2 am on Tuesday from Thiruvananthapuram, reached Alappuzha only by Thursday evening. Thousands braved heavy rain to be on the streets to pay their last respects to their beloved comrade.