In the heart of Aluva’s bustling Palace Road near Bank Junction stands a modest footwear shop, now made iconic by the visits of one of Kerala’s most revered leaders – late VS Achuthanandan. The former Chief Minister, affectionately known as “Comrade VS,” died on July 21, 2025 at the age of 101 after a prolonged hospital stay in Thiruvananthapuram. But at ‘Steps: The Modern Footwear Shop’ in Aluva, his presence continues to be deeply felt.

Nishad KA, the owner of Steps Footwear, recalls VS’s first visit in May 2016 while en route to Perumbavoor. “Someone had recommended our shop to him,” says Nishad. “He came three times in total. Later, when the crowds became unmanageable, we began delivering his footwear to the Aluva Guest House.”

VS preferred soft chappals with good grip – typically leather half-shoes. His footwear choices, as modest as his persona, soon sparked public interest. After news spread of his visit, customers from across Kerala began arriving to ask for the same chappals. “Even last week, a man came all the way from Kothamangalam,” Nishad said, days before the leader’s passing.

Riyas, a staff member at the shop, remembered how VS always insisted on paying for his purchases. “He would take the money from the folds of his jubba, like people from the older generation,” he said. The former Chief Minister mostly opted for Egoss brand leather half-shoes and used VKC chappals for daily wear and long walks.

One incident particularly stood out. An elderly man, around 70, travelled nearly 45 kilometres to buy the same footwear VS used. “He ended up buying a Rs 250 chappal, which is available everywhere. But he wanted it from here,” Riyas said, noting how VS’s legacy had turned an ordinary product into a symbol of connection.

The shop now plans to honour his memory with a framed photograph. “People visiting the store have requested we keep his photo here,” Nishad said.