THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: People are thronging at the Durbar Hall in the Secretariat to pay their last respects to former chief minister V S Achuthanandan, who passed away on Monday. VS, who stepped down from the chief minister’s post in 2011, is returning to the Secretariat courtyard after 14 years to bid adieu to the capital city.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ministers and many others are in the Durbar Hall where the body is kept. Braving heavy rains, thousands are flocking to pay homage to their leader.

Governor Rajendra Arlekar paid homage to VS. He loved everyone, regardless of party, such people are very rare, said the Governor.

VS was a chief minister who worked hard for the state. When he was the chairman of Norka Roots, he took immediate decisions on any matter related to expatriates, said industrialist M A Yusuff Ali.

BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar also paid his last respects. CPI general secretary D Raja and his wife Annie Raja paid homage.

VS was the pride of Kerala. His demise is a great loss for Kerala, said K K Shailaja while paying tributes to VS.

The body was brought here from his son’s house in Barton Hill.