Senior Congress leader and former Chittur MLA K. Achuthan passes away on Monday (September 7, 2026). He was 76.

He was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Alathur, Palakkad, Keralam, following age-related ailments. Sumesh Achuthan, his son, is the present MLA of Chittur Assembly constituency.

Achuthan represented Chittur in the Kerala Assembly from 1996 to 2016.

Born into a farming family, he became active in politics through the Kerala Students Union. He defeated K. Krishnankutty of the Janata Dal in his maiden electoral contest in 1996 with a margin of 436 votes. There was no looking back since as he represented Chittur in the elections held in 2001, 2006 and 2011. In 2016, he was defeated by Mr. Krishnankutty by a margin of 7, 285 votes.

He was active in the Local Self Government and Co-operative sectors. He was chairperson of Chittur-Thathamangalam municipality for a period of nearly 17 years. He had also served as president of the Thathamangalam Service Co-operative Bank. He was also active in the trade union sector and held the post of president of the Indian National Trade Union Congress unit in Malabar Cements and Chittur Coir Cluster.

Though offered a ministerial berth in the United Democratic Front (UDF) government led by Oommen Chandy in 2011, he refused to take it up as he informed the party leadership that he will not be able to devote full time to the problems faced by the people in his constituency once he became a Minister.

CM condoles

In his condolence message, Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said that the former Chittur MLA left his own mark in public life by combining the qualities of humility, loyalty to the party and leading a simple life. He became the voice of common man and farmers, he said.

Minister for Revenue A. P. Anil Kumar told mediapersons that Achuthan was a people’s leader, who had worked for their welfare throughout his life.

Shafi Parambil, MP and working president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, said that the veteran leader had the pulse of the party workers and always listened to their problems with a kind heart. P.C. Vishnunadh, Minister for Culture, recalled that he had to once take back his wish to resign from the post of MLA after hundreds turned up his house and refused to leave till he changed his decison.

Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan condoled his death and recalled his role in the agricultural and co-operative sectors.