Shillong, July 21 (Agencies): Two firebrand Left leaders, one from Bengal and the other from Kerala, passed away on Monday.
Azizul Haque, one of the leading figures of the Naxalbari movement in Bengal, died in a hospital in Kolkata. He was 85. He was suffering from age-related ailments and died of a heart attack. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee conveyed her condolences and wrote on X saying Haque was a firebrand leader who never compromised throughout his political career.
The other veteran Communist leader who passed away was former Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan. He was 101.
Achuthanandan, who was also a freedom fighter, was the chief minister of the southern state from 2006 to 2011. He was born at Paravur in Alappuzha on October 20, 1923. He was the last surviving founding member of the CPM in Kerala.
The firebrand leader will be remembered for his works as a union leader and even defying his own party. He was once expelled from the CPI(M) in 2009 after he defied the state party secretary.
Achuthanandan lost his parents at an early age, after which he dropped out of school. His political career began at the age of 16. “VS Achuthanandan rose from the lower rungs of society to become the chief minister of Kerala and was among the most charismatic of public leaders,” reported Onmanorama.
“A glorious era of revolutionary will and persistence comes to an end with the passing of our beloved Comrade V. S. Achuthanandan. His life – an illustrious saga of struggles like Punnapra-Vayalar, leadership of toiling agricultural workers, unwavering commitment as an organiser, and as an efficient administrator – remains a limitless repository of inspiration and lessons. As a comrade and a resolute fighter of the people, Comrade VS, as he was fondly known, stands tall as a doyen of Marxist ideology, unyielding in his fight against the exploitative capitalist order. Expressing deepest sorrow at his passing and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and comrades. Adieu, and Lal Salaam, Comrade VS,” Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote on X.
