 "Kerala assembly elections: LDF's star campaigner VS Achuthanandan battles age and internal conflict")
At the ripe old age of 92, former chief minister of Kerala V S Achuthanandan has redefined the art of political survival and indispensability. Popularly called as 'VS', the nonagenarian leader is not only the star campaigner for the left parties this election but also a prospect for the Chief Minister's post if the LDF combine is elected back to power. VS is known for his highly acerbic communication style and ability to decimate political opponents with his unique dialogue delivery. But he has also been at the centre of several controversies within the party for encouraging factionalism and has been denied a ticket several times, only to be given later due to outcry from the large base of supporters he has carefully cultivated over the years.
Losing his parents at a very young age, VS was forced to stop his school education in the seventh class. He started assisting his brother in his tailoring shop and later joined a coir factory as a worker. He started his political life by organising the agricultural workers in Kuttanadu and later participated in the freedom movement and the Communist Movement. VS was in the forefront of the Punnapra – Vayalar struggles against the policies of CP Ramaswamy Iyer, Divan of Travancore.
He started his political life as a trade union worker in 1938 and later became a member of the Travancore State Congress. VS became a member of the Communist Party in 1940 and a member of the undivided CPI state Secretariat in 1957. He was one among the 32 leaders who walked out of the CPI national council in 1964 to form the CPI (M). He was CPI (M) State Secretary from 1980 to 1992. After a bitter internal struggle, he became the Chief Minister of Kerala on May 18, 2006 and was the leader of opposition during 1992 – 1996 and from 2001 to 2006. He was elected to the Kerala Assembly five times.
His political stands became popular when he was in the opposition before 2006, against encroachment and various social evils. While he was successful in getting a ticket for the upcoming election, it is not clear if the party would choose him to lead the government as the Chief Minister, considering the internal politics and his age. He was recently also in news for commenting that he would like to be the Chief Minister once again if the party wins, but later denied making any such comment.