Malampuzha, the ‘river’ that saved V.S. Achuthanandan

V.S. Achuthanandan enjoyed a unique bond with the people of the Malampuzha Assembly constituency in Palakkad, who demonstrated their love and support by re-electing him four times in a row. This loyalty stood out, especially considering his mixed fortunes in other constituencies such as Ambalappuzha and Mararikulam.

His political career spanned 10 elections. Despite facing setbacks in constituencies such Ambalappuzha (two losses in four attempts) and Mararikulam (one loss in two attempts), Malampuzha remained a loyal stronghold for Achuthanandan. It helped him cement his iconic status in Kerala politics by backing him consistently from his arrival in 2001 until his retirement from active politics.

After his 1996 Mararikulam loss, Mr. Achuthanandan’s 2001 Malampuzha win drew a remark from opponents: “The pond let him down, but the river saved him.” When the pond referred to Mararikulam, the river referred to Malampuzha (kulam in Malayalam is pond and puzha, river).

Intriguing paradox

An intriguing paradox marked his lengthy political career—despite his dedication and success, he never quite attained positions of power. A peculiar pattern emerged in his electoral fortunes between 1967 and 2001. He won when his party lost and he lost when his party won. It was the Malampuzha constituency which changed this dynamic.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]’s 2001 decision to deny Mr. Achuthanandan an election ticket sparked massive protests in Malampuzha, forcing the party to make a U-turn and field him. It proved to be a career-defining moment for Mr. Achuthanandan. But it was in 2006 that he had led his party to a massive victory and became the Chief Minister of Kerala.

Impactful protests

As Leader of the Opposition twice, Mr. Achuthanandan shone and led impactful protests. He earned public admiration by taking a strong stand against corruption and exploitation.

Although health issues constrained his visits to Malampuzha after 2016, Mr. Achuthanandan’s letters and messages remained effective. He addressed his electorate’s needs through letters and by commanding attention from officials.