Opposition Trapped as Modi Government Announces Padma Vibhushan for V.S. Achuthanandan

New Delhi: The Modi government has strategically stirred Kerala politics by announcing the Padma Vibhushan for veteran CPM leader and former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. This move has put the state’s ruling party in a politically delicate position, as it navigates the reactions of Achuthanandan’s family and the electorate ahead of upcoming assembly elections.

For the first time, a senior communist leader will be awarded the country’s second-highest civilian honor, even posthumously. While there have been past attempts to honor communist leaders with national awards, most declined due to ideological reasons. In this case, however, Achuthanandan’s family has welcomed the recognition, with his son V.A. Arun Kumar confirming, “It is an honor from the nation, and we will gladly accept it.”

Historically, the CPM has distanced itself from such accolades. Leaders like Kerala’s E.M.S. Namboodiripad in 1992, West Bengal’s Jyoti Basu in 2008, and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya later, all refused national honors citing party principles.

By announcing Achuthanandan’s Padma Vibhushan, the BJP has skillfully cornered the CPM. If the party formally rejects the award now, it risks political backlash, as it cannot prevent the family from accepting it. In this way, the government has effectively created a situation that strengthens its position in Kerala, offering both symbolic and strategic advantages ahead of elections.