THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: V S Achuthanandan, a veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader and also a former chief minister of Kerala, turned 96 on Sunday making him one of the country’s oldest politicians. A true communist, VS continues his tireless fight for the common man even at this stage.

He celebrated his birthday at a simple function held at his residence in Kowdiar with his family and friends. Among those present were V K Prashant, the LDF candidate of Vattiyoorkavu.

VS began his political career as part of trade unions and joined the Congress in 1939.

In 1964, he became a founder leader of CPI (M) after the split in CPI that year.

Velikkakath Sankaran Achuthanandan, popularly known as VS, was born on October 20, 1923, in a working class family in Punnapra in Alappuzha.

Compelled to give up formal education at the primary school stage, he was soon attracted to the fledgling trade union movement in Alappuzha, a bustling commercial town, in the early decades of last century.

His life since then has been closely linked with the history of the Communist movement in the state.

VS became a CPI (M) politburo member in 1996 but was dropped from the top party body a few years ago for speaking against its official line on certain issues.

He had headed the LDF government between 2006-11.

A seven-time legislator, VS presently represents the Malampuzha Assembly constituency in Palakkad.

He had campaigned for the 34-year-old Thiruvananthapuram Mayor, V.K. Prasanth, the CPI-M’s candidate for the prestigious Vatiyoorkavu Assembly constituency, which is going to elect a new legislator on Monday.

He is also the incumbent chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission, which has a cabinet status position.