V. S. Achuthanandan

Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan (20 October 1923 – 21 July 2025), also known by his initialism VS, was an Indian communist politician, independence activist, writer and statesman who was the Chief Minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011. At 82, he was the oldest person to have assumed the office. He was affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He served as the chairman of Administrative reforms in Kerala with state cabinet rank from 2016 to 2021. He served as Leader of the Opposition for 15 years which makes him the longest serving Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly.

Achuthanandan was a member of the CPI(M) Politburo from 1985 until July 2009, when he was reverted to the Central Committee of the party owing to his ideological dispositions.

Achuthanandan initiated various actions as Chief Minister, including the demolition drive in Munnar which reclaimed acres of illegally occupied land, the demolition drive on Kochi's M. G. Road which claimed back the long-lost shoulder of the road, anti-piracy drive against film piracy, and his struggle against the Lottery mafia in the state. He was instrumental in convicting former minister R. Balakrishna Pillai on charges of corruption. Achuthanandan also took the lead in promoting free software in the state, and especially in adopting free software in the public education system of the state.

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