Huge crowds line up for last salute, slow down comrade’s final journey
After the public homage in Durbar Hall, the body will be taken to his native place in Alappuzha around 3 pm.
After the public homage in Durbar Hall, the body will be taken to his native place in Alappuzha around 3 pm.
After the public homage in Durbar Hall, the body will be taken to his native place in Alappuzha around 3 pm.
With seven halt points remaining in Thiruvananthapuram, the funeral procession of veteran CPM leader V S Achuthanandan crossed Attingal by 10.40 pm. CPM flexed its organisational prowess and set up temporary marquees where people from adjacent panchayats waited for the bus carrying mortal remains of Achuthanandan to arrive.
It took almost an hour to cross Attingal as there were three halts: at Moonumukku, Kacherinada and the bus stand. This was against the scheduled plan of procession. Heavy showers and ongoing work on the National Highway further delayed the funeral procession. The road was narrow in many places, and as crowds gathered on either side, the traffic was slowed down. It is expected that the procession will take a minimum of two hours before it reaches Kollam.
Area committees of CPM organised gatherings at junctions like Navaikulam, Korani and Chempakamangalam and people, mostly party sympathisers, got together to pay their respects. Women and children dominated the crowd in most of the places. “I have always voted for CPM. One of the reasons why I did so was this man. I want to see him one last time,” said Bhargavi, a resident of Navaikulam. Unexpected public turnout in a few places forced the party leaders accompanying the bus to change the schedule on the way and include additional halt points.
From the Secretariat to Kazhakuttom, it took nearly six hours. By 5 pm, the Kazhakuttom junction, where two roads intersect, began to be filled with people. Red volunteers and police had a hard time reigning them in and making way for other vehicles. Those who couldn’t find space on the road searched for ideal spots atop nearby buildings. People from neighbouring rural areas like Vattappara, Vembayam and Venjaramoodu came to Kesavadasapuram to pay their respects to Achuthanandan.
IT engineers, hospital professionals and daily labourers waited patiently by the roadside for the funeral procession to arrive. By 7 pm, the announcement vehicle arrived at the Kazhakuttom junction, and more people poured in. The party leaders made repeated requests to the mourners to give way, citing that the procession needed to stick to the schedule. Floral tributes were offered by party members at Kazhakootam, following which the procession headed to Vetturoad and Pallipuram.
The cortège crossed the Thiruvananthapuram city limits after making its 13th halt at Vetturoad at 8 pm.
Mass turnout at Durbar Hall
Earlier, mourners turned up in large numbers at the Secretariat Durbar Hall, where the mortal remains of Achuthanandan were kept for public viewing until 2 pm on Tuesday. Many called him a true statesman who always strived for the people, without worrying about party policies or other challenges.
The former Kerala Chief Minister was given a guard of honour at the conclusion of the public homage at Durbar Hall. His mortal remains were then taken to Alappuzha, his native place, in an air-conditioned KSRTC bus decorated with flowers and photos of the leader. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ministers and CPM leaders are accompanying the mourning procession.
Emotional scenes at his residence
The senior politician breathed his last on Monday while undergoing treatment at the SUT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. His mortal remains were kept at his residence from Monday night following a public viewing at the old AKG Centre. Though only family members were allowed inside the house, a huge number of people reached there to catch a final glimpse of their beloved leader. Mourners were seen breaking into tears and chanting the slogan 'Kanne Karale VSe', praising Kerala’s iconic crowd-puller politician.
Men and women were seen weeping in long queues to the Durbar Hall. An elderly woman who had secured a job with VS's help said he was like a father figure to her—almost godlike in her eyes.
Tributes from across the political spectrum
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ministers, CPM national leaders Prakash Karat and Brinda Karat, Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Opposition Leader V D Satheesan and BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar paid homage to the leader. After paying their respects at his residence, several people shared tearful memories of the CPM stalwart.
The procession will head to Alappuzha via Palayam, PMG, Plamoodu, Pattom, Kesavadasapuram, Ulloor, Pongumoodu, Sreekaryam, Chavadimukku, Pangappara, Karyavattom, Kazhakkoottam, Vettu Road, Kaniyapuram, Pallippuram, Mangalapuram, Chembakamangalam, Korani, Moonumukku, Attingal Bus Stand, Kacherinada, Aalamkodu, Kaduvayil and nearby areas in Thiruvananthapuram district. In Kollam, the mourning procession will cover Parippally, Chathannoor, Kottiyam, Chavara, Karunagappally, and Oachira.
In Alappuzha, the major locations the procession will cover include Oachira, KPAC Junction, Kayamkulam-GDM Hall, Kareelakulangara, Nangyarkulangara, Haripad, Karuvatta, Thottappally, Ambalappuzha Junction, Medical College Junction and Punnapra Market. The procession will conclude at the leader’s house at Paravur in Punnapra.
To avoid crowding at the house and the CPM office, the party has decided to arrange a public homage at the Recreation Ground on Alappuzha beach. The minister appealed to the public to gather at the ground to pay their last respects and to cooperate with the arrangements. The funeral will be held on Wednesday evening at Valiyachudukkad.
A founding member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Achuthanandan was a lifelong champion of workers' rights, land reforms and social justice. He served as Kerala's Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011 and was elected to the state assembly seven times, serving three terms as Leader of the Opposition.