Hundreds throng to pay homage to Achuthanandan
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Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Hundreds of people waited outside the historic Darbar Hall here to pay homage to former Chief Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader V S Achuthanandan on Tuesday, a day after he breathed his last at the age of 101.
The mortal remains of the veteran were taken in a procession from his son's residence in the morning to the Hall inside the Secretariat for official public homage.
A large number of party workers accompanied the ambulance. Several others followed in their vehicles.
Thousands of people, including women, the elderly, and students, paid their last respects to Achuthanandan when his body was kept at the old AKG Centre on Monday night. By around 11.45 pm, the body was shifted to his son's residence in the city and kept there till the morning.
Even at midnight, a large number of people gathered in front of the house to catch a glimpse of their beloved leader.
There was no public homage at the house, party sources said.
By Tuesday afternoon, Achuthanandan's body would be taken in a procession to Alappuzha, his hometown.
His cremation will take place at the public crematorium in Alappuzha Valiya Chudukadu by Wednesday noon, party sources added.
The government has declared a public holiday on Tuesday and a three-day mourning period as a mark of respect for the former chief minister.
The veteran leader died at 3:20 pm on Monday while undergoing treatment in the critical care unit of Pattom SUT Hospital.
Achuthanandan had been 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 Leader of the Opposition.
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Efforts of party cadres will be rewarded on May 4: DMK chief Stalin
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday said that the efforts made by his party cadres during the Assembly elections would be rewarded on May 4.
The counting of votes for the Assembly elections held on April 23 will be taken up on May 4.
"We are set to reap the rewards of the hard work put in by our party cadres on the coming fourth (May 4 counting day). There is absolutely no change in this and not even the slightest deviation," Stalin said at a May Day event here.
"There is no need for anyone to assume that I am speaking merely on the basis of exit polls," he added.
Stalin, who is also DMK chief, said that "good news" would come for those eagerly waiting for the election results.
Stating that the DMK governance is based on philosophy and principles, Stalin said, "This will continue."
He recalled the pivotal role of the then Chief Minister C N Annadurai, who first declared May Day as a government holiday, and subsequently, late CM M Karunanidhi, who was instrumental in extending it as a paid holiday across the nation.
"Responding to the request of Kalaingnar (Karunanidhi), the then Prime Minister V P Singh accepted the plea and declared it (May 1) a paid government holiday not merely for Tamil Nadu, but for the entire nation," Stalin said.
