V.S. Achuthanandan walked a path no ordinary communist could, says V.D. Satheesan

V.S. Achuthanandan has passed away conveying the message that age was no barrier to one’s fighting spirit, said Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan here on Tuesday.

“V.S. was always in the opposition whether he was the Opposition Leader or the Chief Minister. He kept quarreling with everything that needs to be confronted. He made no compromise on baseless premises. He took a strong stand in environment and land issues. He broke the party framework and took a path impossible for an ordinary communist, Mr. Satheesan told the media.

“He didn’t succumb to party pressures and charted a course of his own. That set VS’ journey apart,” he said.

Mr. Satheesan recollected that he was the most vocal critic of the VS government and the ministers. “The Chief Minister VS was willing to take on board the Opposition’s views if he was convinced,” he said.

“VS ordered action within 24 hours when it was pointed out that land worth ₹200 crore at Athani near Nedumbassery was handed over to Santiago Martin for a mere ₹5.50 crore. The government reclaimed that land within days. VS also backed the Opposition when it raised the spectre of other State lotteries exploiting Kerala. VS had at that time said that Kerala lost ₹80,000 crore in four years,” Mr. Satheesan said.

“Consequently, other State lotteries were banned in Kerala. The ban was imposed because VS was convinced about the problems raised by the Opposition. Though his speech crossed the limits at times, VS always had a stand in public issues. There were also instances such as when he surrendered to some sections by suspending the Munnar eviction drive. We questioned and criticised him in those issues. VS has left his mark in Kerala’s history,” Mr. Satheesan said.