K. M. Mani

Last updated

Kuttiyamma
​
(m. 1957)​
K. M. Mani
K. M. Mani portrait.jpg
Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly
In office
1965 (1965) –9 April 2019 (2019-04-09)
Succeeded by Oommen Chandy
Children6 (incl. Jose K. Mani)
Alma mater

Karingozhackal Mani Mani (30 January 1933 – 9 April 2019) was an Indian politician and the chairman of Kerala Congress (M), one of the main factions of Kerala Congress, a party born in the Travancore or Central South Kerala region which focused on the well-being of farmers.

Contents

He holds the records of having presented the highest number of budgets (thirteen) in the Kerala Legislative Assembly as Finance Minister and also as the longest-serving member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. He holds the distinction of having been the longest-serving minister in the Government of Kerala to date and for having continuously represented Pala legislative constituency since its inception in 1965 until his death in 2019.

Early life

He was born in a Syrian Catholic family to Aliyamma and K. T. Mani of the Karingozhackal Family. He started his political career by being the Congress president of Marangattupilly ward. He was married to Congress veteran P. T. Chacko's cousin, Kuttiyamma, and has six children: five daughters—Elsa, Sally, Anie, Tessy and Smitha—and one son, Jose K. Mani. [1]

Political career

Overview

Mani practiced as a lawyer before entering into politics as an active member of the Indian National Congress. He served as the Kottayam DCC (District Congress Committee) Secretary from 1960 till 1964. He was minister for Home Affairs (April 1977 to September 1978 and again from October 1978 to July 1979). He was minister for 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 in the Legislative Assembly. [2]

As Member of Kerala Congress (1965–1979)

Mani joined Kerala Congress in 1965 right before Kerala Legislative Assembly election. He was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1965 from the Palai Assembly Constituency (now Pala constituency) of Kottayam district, he won all the twelve elections that followed in 1967, 1970, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016.

Theory of the Toiling Class

K. M. Mani, was the man behind the ‘Theory of the Toiling Class’. The theory, an all-purpose political theory, made him acceptable to everyone. According to him, farmers, agriculture labourers and other workers belong to the category of working class and they should stand together to ensure their rights. As per his vision, farmers and agriculture labourers are two sides of the same coin and their union was essential for the upliftment of the agriculture sector, which proved right in the later years, especially in the central Travancore. The financial resolution presented by Mani at the party’s Aluva conference in 1973 was a prelude to this theory. Mani coined this theory at a time when the Communist theory classified the people as labourers and rich men. The significance of Mani was that even the Left was forced to accept this theory when it decided to bring farmers in to their fold. Interestingly, Mani’s economic policies and toiling class theory were instrumental in the growth of Kerala Congress.

Kerala congress (M)

In 1979 he parted ways with Kerala congress leader P.J. Joseph to form a new party called Kerala Congress (Mani).

However in 1985 Kerala congress leaders K. M. Mani (from Kerala Congress (M)), P. J. Joseph from Kerala Congress (Joseph), R. Balakrishna Pillai (from Kerala Congress (B)) and their parties merged forming the united Kerala Congress. This party split in 1987.[ citation needed ]

He lost the Chief Minister post of Kerala in 1979 when P. K. Vasudevan Nair resigned. Then C. H. Mohammed Koya became Chief Minister and after two months Mani withdrew his party's support on that government and Koya resigned. Now Mani got another chance to become the Chief Minister, but with the interference of Congress party the Assembly was dissolved in favor of all those who did not wish him to become the Chief Minister.[ citation needed ]

Mani was not among the founders of the Kerala Congress. In the faction-ridden Kerala Congress, Mani was accused by political foes as having engineered many a split in the party.[ citation needed ]

He is the longest-serving Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the history of Kerala Legislative Assembly. [3]

In a public function organized at Ramapuram, Palai in October 2009, M. M. Jacob, senior Congress leader, and former Meghalaya Governor said that he advised Mani in 1965 to contest the Congress party label and if it was done Mani would have become the Chief Minister very early. Again he said that now Mani was fully eligible for the post of Chief Minister.[ citation needed ]

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 organized at Thrissur, Congress leader Oommen Chandy invited him to Congress party. But Mani rejected.[ citation needed ]

On 2 November 2009, P. C. George's faction of the Kerala Congress decided to merge with Kerala Congress (M). This was a major breakthrough in Kerala politics since George criticized Mani for many years.[ citation needed ]

On 30 April 2010, P. J. Joseph resigned his ministerial post and declared that his Kerala Congress was going to merge with Kerala Congress (M). Political analysts have estimated that this decision would help Kerala Congress to sweep almost all the assembly seats in Central Travancore region and would create a new diversion in Kerala politics. [4]

His initiative of the Karunya Lottery Benevolent Scheme claims financial help for poor people from lottery revenue. His Theory of the Toiling Class was presented in the British Parliament. Based on Kerala High court's comments on Mani's involvement in Kerala BAR license scam and bribery case, he had to resign from the post of Finance minister of Kerala on 10 November 2015. On 9 May 2016, Mani recorded his 13th consecutive victory from his home constituency of Palai by defeating the then Left front candidate Mani C. Kappan by a lead of 4703 votes.

Bar Bribery scam

On 10 November 2015, Mani was pulled down from the position as Minister of Finance and Law Kerala state, as he was accused of being a part of bar bribery scam. He was the Chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on Goods and Services Tax (GST). Based on Kerala High Court's comments on Mani's involvement in Kerala Bar License Scam and Bribery Case, he resigned from the post of Finance minister on 10 November 2015, after a lot of heated political debate. The resignation has come after a day-long political turmoil in Kerala capital.[ citation needed ]

Literary works

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. He presented paper on India and Globalisation: Asian Economic Community – Need of the Day at the National Seminar held in New Delhi on 22 December 1994. [5]

Death

He died on 9 April 2019 in Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi due to Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K. Karunakaran</span> Indian politician and former Chief Minister of Kerala

Kannoth Karunakaran was an Indian politician who served as the 5th Chief Minister of Kerala in 1977, from 1981 to March 1982, from May 1982 to 1987 and again from 1991 to 1995. He is the founder of the United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition, which is the current political alliance in Kerala led by INC.

Reddiar is a Telugu speaking land owning, merchants, agricultural social group in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. Achutha Menon</span> Former chief minister of Kerala

Chelat Achutha Menon was an Indian politician and lawyer who served as the 4th Chief Minister of Kerala from November 1969 to August 1970 and again from October 1970 to 1977. He is viewed as one of the most influential Chief Ministers of Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K. R. Gouri Amma</span> Indian politician (1919–2021)

K. R. Gouri, born Kalathilparambil Raman Gouri, commonly known as Gouri Amma, was an Indian politician from Alappuzha in central Kerala. She was one of the most prominent leaders of the Left movement in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. J. Joseph</span> Indian politician

Palathinal Joseph Joseph is an Indian politician from Kerala Congress serving as the Member of the Legislative Assembly from Thodupuzha Assembly Constituency in Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerala Congress (M)</span> Indian political party

Kerala Congress (M) is a state-level political party in the Indian state of Kerala, currently led by chairman Jose K. Mani. It was formed by K. M. Mani in 1979, after a split from the Kerala Congress. They are part of the Left Democratic Front since October 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. C. Thomas</span> Indian politician

Pulloli Chacko Thomas is an Indian politician who was Union Minister of State for Law and Justice for Kerala from 2003 to 2004 and a six-term member of Lok Sabha from 1989 to 2009. He is the Deputy Chairman of Kerala Congress

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of Kerala</span> Democratically elected body of Kerala

Government of Kerala is the subnational government of the Indian state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who selects all the other ministers. The chief minister and their most senior ministers belong to the supreme decision-making committee, known as the cabinet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1952 Madras Legislative Assembly election</span>

The first legislative assembly Election to the Madras state based on universal adult suffrage was held in March 1952. This was the first election held in Madras state after the Indian Independence. This election was officially known as the 1951 Madras State Election, even though through delays, actual voting didn't take place until early 1952.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. C. George</span> Indian politician

P. C. George, in full Plathottathil Chacko George, is an Indian politician. George is a seven-time and ex Member of the Legislative Assembly (M.L.A.) of the Poonjar constituency in the Kottayam district of Kerala state and. He was in the Kerala Legislative Assembly for 33 years. After the legislative election 2016, he created his own party named as Kerala Janapaksham (Secular). Formerly, he was the member of political parties like Kerala Congress, Kerala Congress (Joseph), Kerala Congress (Mani) and Kerala Congress (Secular).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jose Thettayil</span>

Jose Thettayil is an Indian politician, trade unionist, advocate, and a member of Janata Dal (Secular). He was the ex- minister for Transport in the Government of Kerala. He represents the Angamaly constituency in Ernakulam district in the Kerala Legislative Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. T. Chacko</span> Indian politician

Pulloli Thomas Chacko, was an Indian politician from Chamampathal,Kottayam in central Kerala. A member of the Travancore and Travancore-Cochin Assemblies and the Constituent Assembly, Chacko served as the first Leader of Opposition of the newly formed state of Kerala. He was also the Home Minister of Kerala holding the additional portfolios of Revenue and Law during the period 1960–64. Resignation of Chacko from Congress-led cabinet in 1964 resulted in the formation of the regional party Kerala Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Chandy ministry</span>

The United Democratic Front government led by Oommen Chandy sworn in on 18 May 2011. Seven of the total 20 members of the Cabinet took office on 18 May and the rest sworn in on 23 May after completing discussion with member parties of the UDF.

T. H. Musthafa is a Kerala politician who served as the Food Minister of Kerala from 1991 - 1995 while Karunakaran was the Chief Minister. He is a five-time legislator belonging to Indian National Congress.

The Kerala Legislative Assembly election of 1957 was the first assembly election in the Indian state of Kerala. The Communist Party of India won the election with 60 seats. The election led to the formation of first democratically elected communist government in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Kallampally</span>

Thomas Kallampally was a notable politician and educationist from Kanjirappally, Kerala. He was born in Kanjirappally. He started Netaji Vayanasaala a library for the youth at Anakkal, Kanjirappally at the age of 18. He was elected as the State General Secretary of Kerala Students Congress, the students wing of Kerala Congress while doing his Law Degree at Government Law College, Ernakulam. He also served as the PTA president of St Antony's Public school from its inception till his demise. Kallampally was also a member of Center for Human Resourced Development of State of Kerala and Kerala State Pollution Control Board. He was also a lead campaign manager for the Kerala Congress for various Lok Sabha elections. Kallampally holds the record of the second youngest MLA in the history of Kerala Legislative Assembly having elected to the Assembly at the age of 26.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. M. Mani</span> Indian politician

M. M. Mani is an Indian politician and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader. [1] He is elected as the MLA from Udumbanchola constituency. He was the former District Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Cherian J. Kappan was a Freedom fighter, Indian National Congress leader, Member of the Travancore–Cochin Legislative Assembly and Member of Parliament from Kerala, India. He was a member of Travancore State Legislature from 1948 to 1951 and M.L.A. in Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly from 1952 to 1954. Cherian represented Ramapuram constituency as a Congress Parliamentary Party candidate in Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly. He represented Muvattupuzha constituency in third Lok Sabha (1962–67). He was the first chairman of the Pala Municipality.

P. K. Kunju was a politician from Kerala, India. He was a long-time Member of Legislative Assembly. He was Kerala finance minister from 1967 to 1969. He was a member of the Sree Moolam Assembly in 1937, the Travancore Legislative Assembly in 1948-49 and the Thiru-kochi Assembly in 1954. He was elected to the 2nd Kerala Legislative Assembly as a Praja Socialist Party representative from Krishnapuram and the 3rd Legislative Assembly as a Samyukta Socialist Party candidate from Kayamkulam. The Kerala State Lottery was established when he was the finance minister.

References

  1. ↑ "Jose K. Mani: National Portal of India". india.gov.in. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  2. ↑ "KM Mani Was A Dominant Player in Kerala Politics Who Never Lost An Election". HuffPost India. 10 April 2019.
  3. ↑ "Golden Jubilee of Kerala Asssembly: 2006-2007- records (Updated)".
  4. ↑ Merger does not need UDF's consent: Mani
  5. ↑ "(former) Minister for Revenue & Law". Kerala Niyamasabha.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.