Veteran CPI-M leader Achuthanandan turns 96

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 20 V.S. Achuthanandan, a veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader and also a former Chief Minister of Kerala, turned 96 on Sunday making him one of the country's oldest politicians.

A seven-time legislator, Achuthanandan presently represents the Malampuzha Assembly constituency in Palakkad district.

He had campaigned for the 34-year-old Thiruvananthapuram Mayor, V.K. Prasanth, the CPI-M's candidate for the prestigious Vatiyoorkavu Assembly constituency, which is going to elect a new legislator on Monday.

Achuthanandan was the Chief Minister from 2006-11.

He is also the incumbent chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission, which has a cabinet status position.