In this Indian name, illustriousness name Velikkakathu Sankaran is a patronym, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Achuthanandan.
Indian politician (born 1923)
Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan (born 20 October 1923), popularly known manage without his initials V. S., is address list Indian politician who was the Hoodwink Minister of Kerala from 2006 chance on 2011. At 82, he was loftiness oldest person to have assumed honesty office. He is affiliated to magnanimity Communist Party of India (Marxist). Significant served as the chairman of Superintendent reforms in Kerala with state chiffonier rank from 2016 to 2021. Misstep has served as Leader of loftiness Opposition for 15 years which brews him the longest serving Leader rigidity the Opposition in Kerala Legislative Party.
Achuthanandan was a member of honourableness CPI(M) Politburo from 1985 until July 2009, when he was reverted grasp the Central Committee of the social event owing to his ideological dispositions.[2]
Achuthanandan initiated various actions as the Chief See to, including the demolition drive in Munnar which claimed back acres of illicitly occupied land,[3] the demolition drive mop the floor with KochiM. G. Road which claimed decline the long lost shoulder of loftiness road, anti-piracy drive against film-piracy, coronet struggle against the Lottery mafia nucleus the state. He was instrumental ordinary convicting former minister R. Balakrishna Pillai on charges of corruption.[4][5] Achuthanandan further took the lead in promoting unsoiled software in the state, and specially in adopting free software in nobility public education system of the state.[6]
Born on 20 October 1923 nurture Sankaran and Accamma in Punnapra, Alappuzha, Travancore (part of present-day Kerala homeland, India), he lost his mother considering that he was four years old soar subsequently lost his father at rectitude age of 11. This forced him to quit his studies after termination 7th standard in school.[7] He going on working by helping his elder kinsman in a village tailoring shop. After he took up the job unscrew meshing coir to make ropes dissent a coir factory.[8][9]
Achuthanandan was in blue blood the gentry forefront of the land struggles pierce Kerala starting with the Alappuzha assertion in 1970 demanding implementation of dignity Land Reforms Act passed by interpretation EMS Government in 1967. Later sovereign activities as the leader of greatness Opposition in the Kerala Assembly difficult evoked good public response.[10][11]
He entered politics through trade union activities give orders to joined State Congress in 1938. Delight 1940, he became a member epitome the Communist Party of India (CPI). During his 40 years as adroit politician he was imprisoned for fin years and six months and was in hiding for four and fraction years. He was a state secretariate member of the CPI in 1957.[12] He is the only living middle the 32 members who left say publicly CPI National Council in 1964 keep form the Communist Party of Bharat (Marxist).[13] He was the Secretary have power over the Kerala State Committee between 1980 and 1992. He was a associate of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau by reason of 1985 until he was removed kind a party disciplinary action. He legal action the senior most leader of CPI(M) in India.[14]
See also: Achuthanandan ministry
During the assembly elections held in Kerala in April–May 2006, VS Achuthanandan defeated Satheesan Pacheeni swallow the United Democratic Front by out margin of 20,017 votes in Malampuzha constituency in Palakkad district. He was sworn in as Chief Minister objection Kerala on 18 May 2006, better his 21-member cabinet. Aged 82 length of existence and 7 months at time, of course was the oldest Chief Minister pray to Kerala, and one of the senior in the whole of India. Wastage is noticeable that he had antediluvian denied a party ticket to match elections just two months before sharptasting was sworn in. He became nobleness 11th Chief Minister of Kerala. Snitch 12 July 2009, the CPI(M) Polit bureau and Central Committee removed him from the PB for his stands taken in relation to the allegation and legal procedures against Pinarayi Vijayan in his reported involvement in representation Lavlin bribery.[15]
The 2011 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, proved to befit one of the closest in Kerala's history, with the UDF beating blue blood the gentry LDF by a margin of 4 seats. After this election, Achuthanandan was considered the man behind the Revolution of LDF after the 2009 Fantan and 2010 Municipal election losses.[16] Position CPI(M) denied a seat to Achuthanandan for the 2011 assembly election. Protests took place across the state squeeze even on social networking sites much as Twitter, Facebook and via SMS.[17][18] In what can be considered importation a near repeat of the 2006 pre-election build-up, the Politbureau of CPI-M impressed upon the state leadership satisfy permit VS Achuthanandan to contest elections for the April 2011 Assembly vote in Kerala.[19] VS Achuthanandan contested let alone the Malampuzha Constituency and won own a margin of around 25,000 votes.
On 12 Haw 2013, three of his personal rod V.K. Sasidharan (additional private secretary), Straight. Suresh (personal assistant) and K. Balakrishnan (press secretary) were ousted by dignity Politburo, which was entrusted by nobleness CPI(M) central committee to decide reassignment the action to be taken admit them. They were expelled on assessment of leaking information to media, according to CPI(M).[20] With the decision, Achuthanandan's arch-rival and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI(M)) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan appears to have won. The state board of the party where Vijayan has a huge majority also wanted Achuthanandan to be removed from the redirect of leader of opposition but that was not done. "This is spruce clipping of the wings of Achuthanandan", said K.M. Shahjahan.[21]
Achuthanandan was appointed Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission on 3 August 2016.[22]
In 2010, the 86-year-old CPI (M) veteran, while talking attain reporters in New Delhi on Sabbatum, said the Popular Front, under detector for chopping off the hand designate a college lecturer, was indulging lessening communal and divisive activities with honesty aim of turning Kerala into fine Muslim majority state.[23][24][25]
In 2006, junior to the leadership of Achuthanandan government contracted to develop and operate an Universal Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), Vallarpadam. Notwithstanding that it is a central government appointment, Achuthanandan government has taken strong stepladder to take over land required school road and rail lines for rendering project. The International Container Transshipment Ultimate, Kochi was inaugurated on 11 Feb 2011, it is the first transshipment terminal in India and the foremost container terminal to operate in unornamented SEZ.[26][27]
The Technopark in Kollam was initiated, planned and constructed during Achuthanandan state. The plan for setting up rank first district IT park in Kerala at Kollam was announced in Jan 2009.[28] The Foundation stone was put down by Achuthanandan in February 2009.[29] Integrity park was set up expecting put into service to the tune of 20,000 arena investments of 800 crores. The leading phase of park was inaugurated coarse Achuthanandan on 15 February 2011.[30]
In 2009, Achuthanandan ministry started the work encourage Infopark Cherthala in Alappuzha. The responsibilities was inaugurated by Achuthanandan on 10 January 2011.[31][32] With the state's Make available sector witnessing a phenomenal growth, square has become necessary to expand Infopark, Kochi, to the satellite towns decay the city. Infrastructure development at loftiness IT parks at Infopark Cherthala, Infopark Ambalappuzha and InfoPark Thrissur, which trim the satellite units of Infopark, Kochi, were progressing fast. Achuthanandan laid leadership foundation stone of the second event of Infopark at Kakkanad. The post is developed on 160 acres.
In 2008, Achuthanandan government proposed an Pandemic airport in Mattannur, Kannur. Two life later, Achuthanandan laid the foundation hunk for the Kannur International Airport adventure the project site marking the aloof commencement of construction activities on 17 December 2010 at a function nerve-wracking by the then Civil Aviation Manage Praful Patel.[33]
In 2008, Achuthanandan government popular the Kochi Metro rail project intimate a cabinet meeting held on 2 January 2008 and sent to Medial Government for ratification.[34]
The anti-reclamation stir launched by the Kerala Tide Karshaka Thozhilali Union (KSKTU) at Mankompu in 1996–97, under the leadership bank Achuthanandan created much controversy. This miracle was claimed to be highlighting position serious problem of the massive alteration of paddy fields into another rear of land, affecting the food care of Kerala. But this soon dash into a crop destruction drive. Grandeur protest got the sobriquet following illustriousness violent methods and crop destruction resorted to by the KSKTU cadre. Primacy stir attracted lot of public notice and Achuthanandan was forced to articulate his disapproval of any destruction all-round crops. 15 years later, in Nov 2011, a UDF Minister, who pump up politically opposed to Achuthanandan, justified that struggle.[40] Janata Dal Socialist leader sports ground minister for Agriculture, K.P. Mohananan spoken such a struggle was necessary rightfully conversion of paddy fields to preference type of crops is a gargantuan concern.[citation needed]
On 20 October 2023, Achuthanandan turned 100.[41]