Thiruvananthapuram: The mortal remains of former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will be kept for public viewing at the Durbar Hall in the Government Secretariat from 9 am on Tuesday.
Following his demise, the state government has declared three days of official mourning starting July 22, and a public holiday for today.
Today's public holiday will be applicable to all government offices, educational institutions, and banks, a release said.
The National Flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings during the mourning period.
“Public entry to the Government Secretariat will be through the North Gate and Treasury Gate. After paying their last respects, the public must exit through the YMCA Gate,” police sources said.
“Only vehicles of ministers, MLAs, MPs, and senior officials will be allowed entry into the Secretariat premises. All other vehicles, including those of Secretariat staff, must be parked at the Central Stadium,” the sources added.
Parking will not be permitted within the Secretariat premises or on the roads surrounding it, they said.
In this afternoon, the mortal remains will be taken in a funeral procession to Alappuzha via the National Highway. By night, it will reach his residence at Vellikkakathu in Alappuzha, where public viewing will continue.
On Wednesday, the body will be taken to the CPI(M) District Committee Office in Alappuzha, followed by public homage at the Alappuzha Town Hall. The cremation will take place with full state honours in the evening at the Valiya Chudukadu crematorium in Alappuzha, CPI(M) State Secretary M.V. Govindan announced.
The body, which was brought from SUT Hospital to the old AKG Centre at 5 pm yesterday, was later taken to his son’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram last night.
As a mark of respect, CPI(M) party flags will be flown at half-mast, as directed by M.V. Govindan. V.S. Achuthanandan was the oldest person ever to serve as Chief Minister in Kerala’s history. As Leader of the Opposition, he was a frontline leader of people’s agitations and social movements.
