K. M. Mani
Encyclopedia
Karingozhakkal Mani Mani (K. M. Mani) is a veteran Indian politician and the leader of Kerala Congress (M)
, one of the factions of the Kerala Congress
. He holds the records of having presented the maximum number of eight budgets
in the Kerala Legislative Assembly
as Finance Minister and also as the longest-serving member of Kerala Assembly. He holds the distinction of being the longest-serving minister in the Government of Kerala
and having continuously represented from Palai legislative constituency since its inception.
He is the MLA of Palai Legislative constituency for the last 45 years beginning from 1965. He is known for his political tactics as comparable to veteran politician K. Karunakaran. He lost the Chief Minister post of Kerala in 1979 twixt cup and lip.
Mani is regarded as the 'God Father' of all factions of Kerala Congress parties in the state.
village in Kottayam district
of Kerala
and is married to Kuttiyamma. They have a son, five daughters, and thirteen grandkids. His son Jose K Mani, contested unsuccessfully from the Muvattupuzha
parliament constituency in 2004.Later in 2009 Jose K Mani was elected as the MP of Kottayam parliament constituency by defeating sitting MP Suresh Kurup of LDF. He is married to Nisha Jose. Mani practiced as a lawyer before entering politics as an active member of the Indian National Congress
. He studied in Kuravilangad
St. Mary's High School and in Palai St. Thomas HS, Marangattupilly. He was interested in elocution from a young age and participated in elocution competitions. He started his political career by being the Congress president of Marangattupilly
ward. He married Kuttiyamma when he was a Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee
member.
(now PALA) Constituency of Kottayam
district, and since then he won all the ten elections that followed in 1967, 1970, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011. He was minister for Home Affairs (April 1977 to September 1978 and again from October 1978 to July 1979), Finance and Law (January 1980 - October 1981, December 1981-March 1982 and again from May 1982-March 1982-March 1986), Irrigation and law(1987), Revenue and Law(1987), Revenue and Law (June 1991 to March 1996),Revenue and Law(2001 to 2006). He has never lost an election to the Legislative Assembly.
He lost the Chief Minister post of Kerala in 1979 twixt cup and lip when P K Vasudevan Nair resigned. Then C. H. Mohammed Koya became Chief Minister and after 2 months Mani withdrew his party's support on that government and C. H. resigned. Again Mani got a chance to become the Chief Minister, but with the interference of Congress party the Assembly was dissolved in favour of all those who did not wish him to become the Chief Minister.
In the faction ridden Kerala Congress
, Mani is accused by political foes as having engineered many a split in the party. He is also famous for describing the Kerala Congress as a party "which splits as it grows and grows as it splits".
In his tenure as being a Member of the Legislative Assembly
(MLA), he is second only to K. R. Gowri Amma
.
In a public function organised at Ramapuram, Palai on October 2009, M. M. Jacob, senior Congress leader and former Meghalaya Governor said that he advised Mani in 1965 to contest in the Congress party label and if it was done Mani would have become the Chief Minister very early. Again he said that now Mani is fully eligible for the post of Chief Minister.
In 2009, Mani got the P. R. Francis award for the best social worker of Kerala. After presenting the award to Mani in a function organised at Thrissur, Congress leader Oommen Chandy invited him to Congress party. But Mani rejected.
On November 2, 2009, P. C. George faction of the Kerala Congress decided to merge with Kerala Congress (M). This was a major breakthrough in the Kerala politics since George abused and criticised Mani for many years.
On 30 April 20, P. J. Joseph
resigned his ministerial post and declared that his Kerala Congress is going to merge with Kerala Congress (M). Political analysts have estimated that this decision will help Kerala Congress to sweep almost all the assembly seats in Central Travancore region and will create a new diversion in Kerala politics.
On May 13, 2011, Mani recorded his 12th consecutive victory from his home constituency of Palai by defeating the Left front candidate Mani C. Kappen by a lead of 5,500 votes.
He advocates 'toiling class' theory which is for the liberation and upliftment of lower middle class through progressive reforms and taxation policy. His 'toiling class' theory negates 'class struggle' whereas it stands for 'class collaboration' According to Mani, 'toiling class' theory is an alternative to socialism and capitalism. In a recent seminar organized by Centre for Reform and Research, he stated that "left parties cannot resist global changes".
He is the author of Fiscal Problems of Kerala-Causes and Remedial Measures, The People's Socialism and The Eighth Five Year Plan-An alternative approach.
Kerala Congress (M)
Kerala Congress is a recognised state level Indian political party in Kerala. It was formed in 1979, through a split from the Kerala Congress. Its leader is K. M. Mani, a former minister of the Government of Kerala. Its chairman was C. F. Thomas...
, one of the factions of the Kerala Congress
Kerala Congress
The Kerala Congress is a recognized State political party in Kerala, India. The party was founded by K. M. George in October 1964 after a group of legislators decided to break from the Indian National Congress...
. He holds the records of having presented the maximum number of eight budgets
Government budget
A government budget is a legal document that is often passed by the legislature, and approved by the chief executive-or president. For example, only certain types of revenue may be imposed and collected...
in the Kerala Legislative Assembly
Kerala Legislative Assembly
The Kerala Legislative Assembly more popularly known as Niyamasabha , is the law making body of Kerala, one of the 28 States in India. The Assembly is formed by 140 elected representatives and one nominated member from the Anglo-Indian community...
as Finance Minister and also as the longest-serving member of Kerala Assembly. He holds the distinction of being the longest-serving minister in the Government of Kerala
Government of Kerala
The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...
and having continuously represented from Palai legislative constituency since its inception.
He is the MLA of Palai Legislative constituency for the last 45 years beginning from 1965. He is known for his political tactics as comparable to veteran politician K. Karunakaran. He lost the Chief Minister post of Kerala in 1979 twixt cup and lip.
Mani is regarded as the 'God Father' of all factions of Kerala Congress parties in the state.
Early life
He was born to Thomas Mani and Aleyamma Mani in 1933 in a Syriac Catholic Christian family at MarangattupillyMarangattupilly
Marangattupally is a small village and headquarters of Marangattupally Grama Panchayat in Kottayam district, Kerala . Most of its people are either farmers or engaged in small-scale business. K. R. Narayanan, the tenth President of India, was born and grew up in the neighboring village of...
village in Kottayam district
Kottayam district
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and is married to Kuttiyamma. They have a son, five daughters, and thirteen grandkids. His son Jose K Mani, contested unsuccessfully from the Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...
parliament constituency in 2004.Later in 2009 Jose K Mani was elected as the MP of Kottayam parliament constituency by defeating sitting MP Suresh Kurup of LDF. He is married to Nisha Jose. Mani practiced as a lawyer before entering politics as an active member of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. He studied in Kuravilangad
Kuravilangad
Kuravilangad is a town located in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. The town is situated in the Meenachil Taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam, and is located near the town of Ettumanoor and places like Kalathoor, Kalikave, Vempally, Marangattupally, Kurianad, Monippally, Vakkadu...
St. Mary's High School and in Palai St. Thomas HS, Marangattupilly. He was interested in elocution from a young age and participated in elocution competitions. He started his political career by being the Congress president of Marangattupilly
Marangattupilly
Marangattupally is a small village and headquarters of Marangattupally Grama Panchayat in Kottayam district, Kerala . Most of its people are either farmers or engaged in small-scale business. K. R. Narayanan, the tenth President of India, was born and grew up in the neighboring village of...
ward. He married Kuttiyamma when he was a Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee is the unit of the Indian National Congress - the world's largest political organization -working in the state of Kerala. Its head office is situated at Trivandrum ....
member.
Political career
Mani practiced as a lawyer before entering into politics as an active member of Indian National Congress. He served as the Kottayam DCC (District Congress Committee) Secretary from 1960 till the formation of Kerala Congress in 1964. He was elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1965 from the Palai Assembly ConstituencyPalai Assembly Constituency
The Palai Assembly Constituency consists of the Palai municipality and 10 nearby gram panchayats: Mutholy, Kozhuvanal, Karoor, Meenachil, Uzhavoor, Marangattupilly, Kadaplamattom, Veliyannoor, Ramapuram and one other...
(now PALA) Constituency of Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
district, and since then he won all the ten elections that followed in 1967, 1970, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011. He was minister for Home Affairs (April 1977 to September 1978 and again from October 1978 to July 1979), Finance and Law (January 1980 - October 1981, December 1981-March 1982 and again from May 1982-March 1982-March 1986), Irrigation and law(1987), Revenue and Law(1987), Revenue and Law (June 1991 to March 1996),Revenue and Law(2001 to 2006). He has never lost an election to the Legislative Assembly.
He lost the Chief Minister post of Kerala in 1979 twixt cup and lip when P K Vasudevan Nair resigned. Then C. H. Mohammed Koya became Chief Minister and after 2 months Mani withdrew his party's support on that government and C. H. resigned. Again Mani got a chance to become the Chief Minister, but with the interference of Congress party the Assembly was dissolved in favour of all those who did not wish him to become the Chief Minister.
In the faction ridden Kerala Congress
Kerala Congress
The Kerala Congress is a recognized State political party in Kerala, India. The party was founded by K. M. George in October 1964 after a group of legislators decided to break from the Indian National Congress...
, Mani is accused by political foes as having engineered many a split in the party. He is also famous for describing the Kerala Congress as a party "which splits as it grows and grows as it splits".
In his tenure as being a Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLA), he is second only to K. R. Gowri Amma
K. R. Gowri Amma
K. R. Gowri Amma heads the Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy , a political party based in Kerala, India. Prior to the formation of JSS she was a prominent figure in the communist movement in Kerala...
.
In a public function organised at Ramapuram, Palai on October 2009, M. M. Jacob, senior Congress leader and former Meghalaya Governor said that he advised Mani in 1965 to contest in the Congress party label and if it was done Mani would have become the Chief Minister very early. Again he said that now Mani is fully eligible for the post of Chief Minister.
In 2009, Mani got the P. R. Francis award for the best social worker of Kerala. After presenting the award to Mani in a function organised at Thrissur, Congress leader Oommen Chandy invited him to Congress party. But Mani rejected.
On November 2, 2009, P. C. George faction of the Kerala Congress decided to merge with Kerala Congress (M). This was a major breakthrough in the Kerala politics since George abused and criticised Mani for many years.
On 30 April 20, P. J. Joseph
P. J. Joseph
P. J. Joseph is an Indian politician, the leader of the Kerala Congress party in Kerala, and an MLA, representing the Thodupuzha assembly constituency. Since 1990 his party has been part of the Left Democratic Front as an alliance. He has also held various ministerial positions with the Government...
resigned his ministerial post and declared that his Kerala Congress is going to merge with Kerala Congress (M). Political analysts have estimated that this decision will help Kerala Congress to sweep almost all the assembly seats in Central Travancore region and will create a new diversion in Kerala politics.
On May 13, 2011, Mani recorded his 12th consecutive victory from his home constituency of Palai by defeating the Left front candidate Mani C. Kappen by a lead of 5,500 votes.
Contributions
As finance minister of Kerala state, he initiated a lot of reforms that uplifted farmers of the state. When he was the electricity minister, he introduced 'Light Revolution' which brought electricity to a massive number of households. He did a lot for the development of Kottayam and Idukki districts.He advocates 'toiling class' theory which is for the liberation and upliftment of lower middle class through progressive reforms and taxation policy. His 'toiling class' theory negates 'class struggle' whereas it stands for 'class collaboration' According to Mani, 'toiling class' theory is an alternative to socialism and capitalism. In a recent seminar organized by Centre for Reform and Research, he stated that "left parties cannot resist global changes".
He is the author of Fiscal Problems of Kerala-Causes and Remedial Measures, The People's Socialism and The Eighth Five Year Plan-An alternative approach.