How VS Achuthanandan etched his political legacy in Idukki

From the hills of Mathikettan to the plantations of Munnar and the fiery protests of Pombilai Orumai, the political legacy of VS Achuthanandan remains deeply etched in the soil of Idukki. The district played a vital role in shaping his political journey — and in return, VS helped define the district’s tales of resistance.

VS first set foot in Idukki in 1957, long before the formation of the CPM, to campaign for Rosamma Punnoose, then Communist Party candidate. His uphill trek through the rugged terrains paid off — Rosamma won the election by a significant margin. It marked the beginning of a long and recurring association between VS and Idukki.

In 2001, as the Opposition Leader, VS returned to Idukki, raising a strong voice against encroachments in Mathikettan. His intervention eventually led to region being declared a national park. But it was in 2007 that Kerala witnessed a political storm unlike any other — the Munnar anti-encroachment drive.

The campaign, spearheaded by officers referred to as "VS' cats," triggered statewide debate. Even as the operation drew both praise and political backlash, it firmly reinforced his image as a leader unwilling to compromise. Yet, internal rifts within the party in Idukki also surfaced, sparking a wave of controversies that followed.

During the Pombilai Orumai protest — a movement led by women plantation workers in Munnar demanding better wages and working conditions — VS once again climbed the hills of Idukki. While most political parties distanced themselves, VS spent an entire day and night in solidarity with the women under their protest tent. His presence brought renewed public attention and moral strength to the cause.

VS also made his mark in the Mullaperiyar dam issue, participating in the satyagraha at Vandiperiyar, further sealing his position as an indispensable figure in Idukki’s struggle narratives.