V S Achuthanandan was a relentless fighter who spent his entire life championing the cause of the exploited and the oppressed. After A K Gopalan, he was the most formidable protest leader Kerala has ever seen.
During my childhood, VS was a household name all across the Cherthala Taluk. He stood at the forefront of every agitation demanding fair wages and dignity for the working class. I first saw him at a protest in Vayalar, but I didn’t get the chance to speak to him then. Later, during my tenure as KSU president, I got acquainted with him- a bond that endured for decades. Though he often appeared stern, VS had a remarkable ability to nurture warmth and personal connection beneath that serious exterior.
We became closer during our time together in the Assembly. When EMS was the Leader of the Opposition, VS and Balanandan would sit in the second row behind him. Seated behind them were comrades like Pinarayi Vijayan, M V Raghavan and others. In our days of association with the CPM, it was VS with whom we had the most frequent and meaningful interactions.
He always maintained a dignified and accommodating approach during seat-sharing discussions, even agreeing to concede some sitting seats to us. When it came to cabinet formation, we were initially allotted only three berths. Upon our protest that this was inadequate, it was VS himself who took the lead in reducing the CPM’s share to make room for an additional cabinet berth for us.
In 2001, when I served as the Chief Minister, VS was the Leader of the Opposition. He never held back in criticising the government and rarely did a day pass without his sharp criticism of the government. Yet, behind the scenes, he consistently took the initiative to resolve deadlocks in the functioning of the Assembly and build consensus whenever such situations arose. He would assign Kodiyeri Balakrishnan for the task, while I relied on Oommen Chandy and Aryadan Muhammad.
It was while serving as the Opposition leader that he transitioned from a tough party secretary to a mass leader with wide appeal. Eventually, VS became a crowd-puller.
After becoming Chief Minister in 2006, VS showed a strong commitment to Kerala’s development. During one of his visits to Delhi, he expressed a desire to meet me. I offered to come to him, and we met at Kerala House. His purpose was to seek my support for the Kochi Metro Rail project. The Centre was insisting on implementing it under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, but VS stood firm in his reservations. He was equally determined in pushing forward the Vizhinjam Port project, fighting hard to see it through.
Usually, the Defence Ministry gives project clearances only after all departmental approvals are in place. But such was the interest VS showed that the Defence Ministry granted initial-phase approval even before the usual process was complete.
From a fiery trade union leader to a protest icon and eventually to a Chief Minister who championed development, I had the privilege of seeing many dimensions of VS.
I used to call and wish him on his birthday every year until he became bedridden. Whenever he picked up the call, his first response would be, “What’s it, Mr Antony?” That long-standing relationship, which spanned decades, is now broken. But his memories will always remain with me.
(AK Antony is the former Chief Minister of Kerala)