It was for the above reason that he was deputed to lead the election campaign for the prestigious by-election in Devikulam in 1958. The campaign focused on new initiatives of the communist government for the welfare of the plantation labourers, most of whom were migrants from Tamil Nadu.

While Congress brought leaders and ministers from Tamil Nadu, VS stole the limelight by bringing M G Ramachandran (MGR), the only time in history that MGR campaigned in Kerala elections. Musician Ilaiyaraaja was also key player in the music troupe. Schooled in Alappuzha caste-class praxis, VS also paid attention to the ethnicity of the workers. CPI candidate Rosamma Punnoose registered a resounding victory.

In the inner party struggle during the early 1960s, VS was with the Left trend and was one of the 32 members who walked out of CPI National Council which sealed the split in the Communist Party. Since then, he has been one of the foremost leaders of CPM, being state secretary for 12 years and a politburo member for 24. He was a member of the assembly for 35 years. Whether in power or not, he always identified himself with the struggles of the poor for land, wages and livelihood. He could communicate with them easily and endeared him to the masses.

The most important contribution of VS was building the workers movement in the unorganized sector, like agricultural workers and traditional industrial workers. As with many other Alappuzha worker-leaders, it was P Krishna Pillai who identified the organiser in young Achuthanandan and deputed him to organise the agricultural workers in Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala. Since then, the story of mobilization of agricultural workers in Kerala has been intertwined with that of V S Achuthanandan. The struggle was not only for better wages but also against caste and for self-respect and dignity.

There were two occasions for me to closely interact with and work with him. The first was during the People’s Plan Campaign when after the demise of EMS, he became the chairman of its High-Power Guidance Council. Every month, we would undertake tours visiting panchayats, reviewing the work and learning from practice.

Often, when he visited the paddy fields, VS would take a few stalks of grains and ask dignitaries around how many grains are in the stalks. None knew. And to the merriment of the crowd, VS would give the count. This deep attachment to wetlands and paddy cultivation for environmental and economic reasons was linked to early experience in agricultural workers movement.