POLITICAL LIFE

POLITICAL LIFE C. ACHUTHA MENON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achutha Menon started his political career by associating himself with the State Congress, and actively took part in the Congress meeting held at Thrissur. He subsequently became a member of the Kochi Praja Mandalam. He joined the Communist Party of India in 1941 through his involvement in the "Labour Brotherhood" movement.^[1] Shri. Menon became a Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India and a member of its Executive Committee and Central Secretariat. He continued his political activities, even when the Communist Party was banned. He was imprisoned for many years.

 

 

The first imprisonment Achutha Menon underwent was in 1940, for one year for making an anti-war speech; and the next in the wake of the "Quit India" movement of 9 August 1942 as a detenue for more than a year. He was forced to evade arrest and live "underground" for more than three years during the period 1948-51.

Legislative career

Achutha Menon was elected to the Travancore-Cochin State Legislature while "underground" in 1952.

 

Shortly afterwards Shri. Achutha Menon became elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly, after the reorganisation of the States, thus becoming the first Finance Minister of Kerala in the Ministry headed by E.M.S.

 

Namboodirippad in 1957. He presented the first Budget of Kerala state on 7 June 1957. As the so-called Vimochanasamaram (Liberation Struggle) gained momentum the Home Minister was found unfit to handle the situation and was divested of the crucial portfolio which then was handed over to Menon. He was again elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1960. Menon also became a member of the Rajyasabha during 1968-69.

Split of Communist Party

During the Communist Party split, he continued to remain with the CPI. The political instability during the late sixties had paved the way for a realignment in coalition politics, which had far reaching implication on the political history of the state. He was elected as the State Secretary of C.P.I. too, many times, and was also a member of the National Council of the C.P.I.

Chief Minister of Kerala

Noted as one of the best chief ministers Kerala has had, Achutha Menon assumed charge as the Chief Minister of Kerala on 1-11-1969 and continued till the dissolution of the III Kerala Legislative Assembly. However, it was under his stewardship that Kerala signed on for continuing with the Mullaperiar Dam agreement with Tamil Nadu, as a part of reviewing the pre-independence agreement between the Kingdom of Travancore and the Madras Presidency.

 

 This agreement, experts on the subject believe, fretted away the interests of Kerala and became the prime reason for unenviable situation that Kerala finds itself today in the Mullaperiar issue. He was not a member of the Kerala Assembly then, but subsequently got elected from Kottarakkara in the by-election held in April 1970. In the mid-term poll conducted in 1970, he was again elected this time from Kodakara in Thrissur District and was sworn in as Chief Minister on 4-10-1970 and held office till 1977.^[2]

 

Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology was set up during his period. His ministry continued in power for about seven years and implemented reform measures of basic importance such as the Land Reform Act, take-over of private forests without compensation, law on agricultural labour, gratuity of industrial workers, one-lakh housing scheme, etc., not to mention significant steps towards industrialization of Kerala. It was this ministry which enunciated a Science Policy and established a number of "Centres of Excellence" in Scientific research in the state. Many institutions like Keltron, NATPAC were started during his tenure.

Achutha Menon retired from active politics in 1977.