
Champion of poor, marginalised: Congress condoles Achuthanandans demise
Achuthanandan, one of India's most respected Communist figures and a key presence in Kerala's political history, died on Monday at the age of 101.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said ideological differences aside, Achuthanandan's steadfast commitment to his principles earned him respect as a crusader for democracy.
'My deepest condolences on the passing of former Kerala Chief Minister Comrade V S Achuthanandan, who spent decades in public life," Kharge said in a post on X.
'Ideological differences aside, his steadfast commitment to his principles earned him respect as a crusader for democracy, public welfare and environmental issues," he added.
'My thoughts are with his family, friends and fellow comrades," Kharge said.
Gandhi said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Achuthanandan, a tireless voice for justice and democracy.
'A champion of the poor and the marginalised, he upheld the values of principled politics through bold decisions — especially on issues of environmental and public welfare," the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
'My condolences to his family, comrades, and admirers," he added.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said, 'My heartfelt condolences to the family of former Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri V S Achuthanandan, and to all who were touched by his life and work." 'His contribution to Kerala and to the nation will be respected and remembered for years to come," she said.
The veteran leader died at 3:20 pm while undergoing treatment in the critical care unit of the Pattom SUT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, according to an official bulletin issued by the hospital.
Achuthanandan was receiving treatment since June 23, following a cardiac arrest.
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 the leader of opposition. PTI ASK RC
view comments
First Published:
July 21, 2025, 22:30 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hans India
15 minutes ago
- Hans India
Kishan Reddy accuses Congress of betraying BCs with its reservation policies
Hyderabad: In a sharp critique of the Congress Party's reservation framework, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy accused Congress of deliberately misleading Backward Classes (BCs) with its proposed 42 per cent reservation scheme for local bodies, which includes a 10 per cent quota for Muslims. Addressing the media in the national capital, Delhi, on Friday, the Minister referred to a precedent set by former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, who introduced a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims under the BC-E category during his tenure. This action was struck down twice by the High Court. Although Congress later obtained a stay from the Supreme Court to continue implementing the reservation, Reddy contends that this move was 'unconstitutional' and detrimental to the core BC groups. Kishan Reddy alleged that Congress inflated BC population figures by including 10 per cent Muslims in the claimed 56 per cent BC demographic, reducing actual BC numbers to 46 per cent. He said that the party's attempt to hike the Muslim reservation quota from 4 per cent to 10 per cent within the BC framework is labeled as unjust. Referring to the GHMC elections, where 34 per cent BC reservations allegedly benefited AIMIM candidates, not genuine BCs, he added. Reddy emphasized that reservations historically apply to castes engaged in traditional hereditary occupations and accused Congress of diverting these benefits for political appeasement. He warned that, under the guise of uplifting BCs, Congress was actually diminishing the 34 per cent BC quota to 32% after merging the 10 per cent Muslim component. The Minister highlighted the BJP's achievements in promoting BC leadership, including the appointment of BC members to the Union Cabinet and the granting of constitutional status to the BC Commission. He contrasted this with Congress's alleged failure to elevate BCs to Chief Minister or Prime Minister positions since independence. Kishan Reddy criticized the Congress leaders' remarks questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's community. He clarified that Modi was included in the BC list in 1994 under the Congress-led government of Gujarat, which occurred before his political ascent. He also questioned the logic behind labeling several communities as 'converted' BCs, citing the inclusion of Vishwakarmas and the Lambada community in SC/ST lists over decades. Calling out Congress's decline in electoral relevance, Reddy asserted that the party had been rejected in key states and faced significant losses, including zero seats in Delhi. He attributed the recent personal attacks on Modi to frustration among Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy. He said that the BJP is demanding that local body elections be conducted in line with Telangana High Court orders and that the proposed 42 per cent BC reservations exclude Muslim beneficiaries. Kishan Reddy urged Congress to clarify who stands to gain from this model and challenged Revanth Reddy to resign as Chief Minister in favor of a BC candidate.


Hindustan Times
15 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Fadnavis turns to Shah, Nadda to discuss errant Mahayuti leaders
MUMBAI: Barely three months into the formation of the government, Dhananjay Munde, a senior minister from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), resigned from the cabinet, following a controversy over the alleged role of his close aide Walmik Karad in the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has had to douse many fires subsequently after several senior leaders from Mahayuti parties (Shiv Sena and NCP) kicked up a storm with their actions (see box). Dhananjay Munde (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade) (PTI03_04_2025_000024B) (PTI) Now, in order to put his house straight and unwilling to take any chances ahead of the local body elections planned after the monsoons, Fadnavis has decided to crack the whip. On a recent two-day tour to New Delhi, the chief minister reportedly discussed the issue with the top leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). People in the know have told HT that Fadnavis met union home minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda during his visit. 'The CM is of the opinion that action needs to be taken against the errant ministers to set an example. The controversies around these ministers have dented the image of the government, which the CM has conveyed to his two deputies. He is expected to hold a meeting with both early next week,' said a senior BJP leader, requesting anonymity. The leader however clarified that immediate action was unlikely as it will 'give fodder to the opposition to rejoice and seek credit for action taken on them'. 'The government faced embarrassment when then food and civil supplies minister Dhananjay Munde resigned, after his pictures related to Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's murder popped up on social media, leading to anguish in the Maratha community. Any further resignations will only deepen the embarrassment for the government, which has not even completed a year,' said the leader. 'A reshuffle of portfolios held by the tainted ministers is likely over the next few weeks. They may be given insignificant portfolios.' After meeting Fadnavis on Thursday in the Capital, Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare reached Pune to meet the NCP president Ajit Pawar on Friday evening. While details of the meeting have been kept under wraps, people in the know shared that it went on for a long time. 'The state president had a meeting with the chief minister late on Thursday evening. He then met Ajit dada, which indicates something is going on. But whether the party wants to take any action against its minister is yet to be seen. Ultimately, it will be the party's decision,' said a senior NCP functionary, wishing anonymity. Earlier, speaking about the possible resignation of Kokate, Ajit Pawar told mediapersons in Pune on Thursday that 'it is the prerogative of the CM'. 'I will meet the CM on Tuesday and discuss the matter with him,' said Pawar. Fadnavis turns to Shah, Nadda to discuss errant Mahayuti leaders Second chance for Munde? Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said on Friday, in Pune that if Dhananjay Munde comes out clean of the allegations levelled against him, he could be inducted in the cabinet. Munde was recently given a clean chit by the Bombay high court from the allegation of corruption in the purchase of agricultural equipment when he was agriculture minister until October 2024. 'We are looking into another case related to him in which a judicial probe is going on. If he gets a clean chit from it, he may be inducted back in the cabinet,' said Pawar.


News18
22 minutes ago
- News18
‘Finish The Job': Trump Says Israel Must ‘Get Rid' Of Hamas As Ceasefire Talks Collapse
Last Updated: Speaking to reporters in Washington before departing for Scotland, Trump declared that Hamas didn't want to make a deal regarding a truce and the release of hostages. US President Donald Trump on Friday blamed Hamas for the collapse of talks for a Gaza ceasefire, backing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to intensify military efforts to 'get rid" of the Palestinian militant group. Speaking to reporters in Washington before departing for Scotland, Trump declared that Hamas didn't want to make a deal regarding a truce and the release of hostages. 'Now we're down to the final hostages, and they know what happens after you get the final hostages. And basically because of that, they didn't want to make a deal," he said. Referring to Hamas, he added, 'I think they want to die." The US president said the Hamas leaders are now 'going to be hunted down," adding that Israel 'will have to finish the job… they'll have to fight and clean it up." . @POTUS on Hamas and Gaza: 'They pulled out in terms of negotiating. It was too bad. Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die." — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 25, 2025 Trump's remarks followed the decision by his Middle East peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, to withdraw the US negotiating team from the Gaza ceasefire talks for further consultations in Washington. 'His remarks contradict the reality of recent negotiations and serve the Israeli position," Naim said, after Witkoff blamed Hamas for obstructing a deal. The talks have remained stalled for more than two weeks. On Thursday, both the US and Israel exited the negotiations, with Witkoff indicating that Hamas was at fault and that Washington would now explore 'alternative options." Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.