THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Many paid tributes to senior CPM leader V S Achuthanandan, who passed away on Monday. Governor Rajendra Arlekar, industrialist M A Yusuff Ali, BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar and many social and cultural leaders paid homage to the leader.

VS loved everyone, regardless of party and such kind of people are very rare, said the Governor.

Minister K B Ganesh Kumar said VS was the most popular leader Kerala has ever seen. He was in the forefront on all struggles. A big chapter in Kerala politics is coming to an end.

KPCC President Sunny Joseph and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala paid their last respects to VS.

Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholicos paid his last respects to VS. He said that VS was a popular leader who understood the pains of humanity and he prays that his memories will remain among us as an inspiration.

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. Many are flocking to Durbar Hall to pay their last respects to their beloved leader, defying the rain and adverse weather conditions.

The body will be taken to his hometown at Punnapra in Alappuzha, via the national highway at 2 pm. It will be kept for public viewing at the Alappuzha District Committee office on Wednesday. It will then be kept for public viewing at the Alappuzha Police Recreation Ground. He will be laid to rest at Valiya Chudukad at 3 pm tomorrow.