Veteran CPI(M) leader and former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan was discharged from a government hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday evening. This is after more than a week of treatment for internal bleeding and a respiratory infection. The 96-year old is the most senior Communist leader in the state.

VS, as he is popularly known, was admitted to a private hospital on October 25 and was later shifted to Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences a day later. The condition of the veteran leader was being monitored for a few days, and later began showing improvement.

A health bulletin dated November 6 stated, “Sri V S Achudanandan (96) Former Chief Minister admitted with a left thalamic bleed at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology is now neurologically stable and his respiratory infection is under control. He is expected to leave the hospital for home in a day or two. He is attended by team of doctors from Neurology, Neurosurgery, Anaesthesia and physiotherapy departments along with nursing staff teams.”

While visitors were strictly restricted, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had visited VS in hospital. The seven-time MLA presently representing the Malampuzha constituency in Palakkad, VS Achuthanandan is also Chairman of the State Administrative Reforms Commission.

VS is still active in politics, even campaigning for the bye-elections held in October. He addressed a public meeting for the CPI(M) candidate VK Prasanth for the Vattiyoorkkavu constituency in the bye-elections, days before he was hospitalized. He also addressed a public meeting with a brief but a strong speech.

He had recently celebrated his 96th birthday on October 20.

 Also Read: MLA disqualification: Cong tells SC to listen to audio tape allegedly of Yediyurappa