Earlier in the day, Kumar said in a Facebook post, “We consider this award an acknowledgement of his public life and contributions. However, the movement he represented has a clear political stance on accepting such official honours. As a Communist, he always clung steadfast to those values and to the party’s decisions. In this matter, too, the family’s decision will stand by our father’s ideals and the party line,” he said.

On the eve of Republic Day, when the Padma awards were announced, Kumar had welcomed the honour to his father, saying, “It is a recognition from the country. It is priceless, and the family takes that honour with great pleasure.”

However, the CPI(M)’s state and central leadership were divided on the issue. Party general secretary M A Baby said, “If Achuthanandan were alive, he would not have accepted this award.”

At the same time, state secretary M V Govindan said the party would stand with Achuthanandan’s family in this matter. “It is not a matter to be decided by the party. His family has welcomed the award. We are wholeheartedly supporting the stance of the family. The party will stand with the decision of VS’s family. In the past, when leaders like EMS (Namboodiripad) and Jyoti Basu had declined Padma awards, it was their own personal decisions,” he said.