Kerala Congress (M)

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Kerala Congress (M)
AbbreviationKEC(M)
Chairperson Jose K. Mani
Lok Sabha leader Thomas Chazhikadan
Rajya Sabha leader Jose K. Mani
Founder K. M. Mani
Founded1979;43 years ago (1979)
Split from Kerala Congress
HeadquartersState Committee Office, Near Fire Station, Kottayam [1]
NewspaperPrathichaya weekly
Student wing Kerala Students Congress (M)
Youth wing Kerala Youth Front (M)
Women's wing Kerala Vanitha Congress (M)
Labour wingKerala Trade Union Congress (M)
Ideology Welfare [2]
Democratic socialism [3]
ColoursWhite and Red
ECI StatusState Party [4]
Alliance(1979-1989), (2020- present)
Seats in  Lok Sabha
1 / 543
Seats in  Rajya Sabha
1 / 245
Seats in  Kerala Legislative Assembly
5 / 140
Number of states and union territories in government
1 / 31
Election symbol
Indian election symbol two leaves.svg
Party flag
Kerala-Congress-flag.svg
Website
www.keralacongressm.co.in

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. [5] [6]

Contents

History

Kerala Congress (M) was formed in 1979 after a split in Kerala Congress party. [7] After a series of splits and mergers, Kerala Congress faction of P. J. Joseph merged with Kerala Congress(M). It split again when some leaders including Francis George, Dr. K. C. Joseph, Antony Raju and P. C. Joseph resigned from Kerala Congress (M) and formed the Janadhipathya Kerala Congress in 2016. Kerala Congress (M) quit the United Democratic Front (UDF) in 2016 [8] citing issues with in the UDF, and rejoined it in June 2018 after reconciliation.

Split

A power struggle erupted in the party after the death of Kerala Congress (M) chairman K. M. Mani. One faction was led by his son Jose K. Mani and another was led by senior leader P. J. Joseph. The Election Commission intervened and it ruled in favor of Jose K Mani. The commission passed a verdict recognizing the faction led by Jose K. Mani as the Kerala Congress (M). This was challenged by P. J. Joseph in court and he was granted an interim stay order. The Jose faction approached the Supreme Court of India and it agreed with the Election Commission's verdict. UDF Convener Benny Behanan met with Jose K Mani and following the meeting, he announced that the Jose faction was expelled from UDF as a result of a dispute in Kottayam district panchayat. [9] [5]

Later Kerala Congress (M) joined LDF.

Ministers from the Kerala Congress (M) faction

2011
MinisterMinistry
K. M. Mani Minister for Finance, State Treasury, Taxes & Duties, Law and Housing (May 2011-November 2015)
P. J. Joseph Minister for Water Resources, Irrigation and Inland Navigation (May 2011-May 2016)
P.C George Chief Whip (2011-2015)
Thomas Unniyadan Chief Whip (June–November 2015)
2001
MinisterMinistry
K. M. ManiMinister for Law & Revenue
C. F. ThomasMinister for Rural Development
1991
MinisterMinistry
K. M. ManiMinister for Law & Revenue
Narayana KurupDeputy Speaker

With Left Democratic Front (Kerala) (2020-Present)

Kerala Congress (M) joined hands with LDF for the 2020 Kerala local elections held in December and also for the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election. However KEC(M) allegedly allowed a CPI(M) party member to contest as a KEC(M) candidate from Piravom (State Assembly constituency). In the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, KEC(M) contested 12 seats and won 5 of them. However, KEC(M) chairman Jose K. Mani lost from Pala (State Assembly constituency) to incumbent MLA Mani C. Kappan of the Nationalist Congress Kerala for 15,378 votes. The loss of this seat is a considered a major setback for Jose K. Mani, as Pala was the original constituency represented by his late father, K. M. Mani, for 49 years from 1967 to 2016.

Ministers Of the Kerala Congress (M) faction With LDF

2021
MinisterMinistry
Roshy Augustine Minister for Water Resources, Irrigation and Inland Navigation
N. Jayaraj Chief Whip

On 18 May 2021, the Left Democratic Front (Kerala) and KEC (M) declared that Kanjirappally (State Assembly constituency) MLA N. Jayaraj is to be the chief whip of the alliance. Idukki (State Assembly constituency) MLA Roshy Augustine is set to become a minister.

Party Organisation

Jose K. Mani is the Chairman of the party since 2020.

Other Notable leaders

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References

  1. "List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 17.09.2010" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2012.
  2. "KM Mani: The man behind the 'Theory of the Toiling Class'". The New Indian Express. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  3. "K M Mani honoured at British Parliament Hall". The New Indian Express. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  4. "List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013" (PDF). India: Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  5. 1 2 "UDF expels Kerala Congress faction led by Jose K Mani". Deccan Herald. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  6. "Kerala Congress (M) Jose K Mani faction joins LDF". The News Minute. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  7. "Kerala Congress (M) (KEC(M))". Elections.in. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  8. "Kerala Congress (Mani) ends 35-year alliance with United Democratic Front". scroll.in . 3 January 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  9. "Explained: Why has Kerala Congress (M) decided to switch to the LDF?". The Indian Express. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.