K. M. Mani

Karingozhakkal Mani Mani (K. M. Mani) (People respectively call as Mani Sir) is an Indian veteran politician and the leader of Kerala Congress (M), one of the main factions of the Kerala Congress , A Party born in central travancore or central south kerala region Focusing Interest of kerala farmers. He holds the records of having presented the maximum number of thirteen 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 Pala legislative constituency since its inception in 1965. He Never Failed in any elections .

Early life

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.

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 Constituency (now PALA) Constituency of Kottayam district, and since then he won all the eleven 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 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 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.

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 2 November 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 2010, 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.^[1]

On 13 May 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 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.^[2]

Bribery controversy

Around the end of October 2014 The hotel and bar owners association's working president, Biju Ramesh has alleged that he paid Rs.10 million to K.M. Mani, for a government decision in favour of the bar owners; He says that was just part-payment of the deal which tots up to Rs.60 million. Mani has arguably denied it, stating election funds have been legally sourced from people including businessmen, but none was accepted as bribery, which is against a politician's ethics and he welcomes any inquisitions, that would possibly add more shades to his dignity; but he strictly feels it is unnecessary.^[3] The government has ordered a vigilance probe into the charges against Mani.^[4]

Later on 11th Dec 2014 he was booked in Bar Bribery Case by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. A first information report or FIR was filed against Mr. Mani based on preliminary investigations into allegations that he accepted Rs. 1 crore as part of a deal to renew the licenses of 418 "sub-standard" bars that were closed in the state last year.^[5] A senior UDF leader and the founder of Kerala Congress (B) Mr. R. Balakrishna Pillai has revealed in a phone conversation with Biju Ramesh that Mani had collected money from Jewelry Owners, Rice Mill Owners, Bar association, Bakery association and some civil supplies corporation contractors.^[6] According to Mr. R. Balakrishna Pillai, Mr. Mani had collected Rs 19 cores and Rs 2 cores from Jewelry Owners and Rice mill owners respectively.

During the conversion with Biju Ramesh, Pillai had raised other corruption charges against Mani saying that the minister had taken bribe from gold merchants (Rs 19 crore), rice mill owners (Rs 2 crore) and bakery association (Rs 2 crore) for not increasing their tax. Pillai said he had told Chief Minister Oommen Chandy that Mani had taken bribe from bar owners to get their liquor license renewed. George, in his conversion, said, “doesn’t mind that I might have said many things publically to protect Mani. Being a party leader, I have to support him in open.’’ George, who wanted a direct meeting with Ramesh, said he would reveal more things when he meets him (Ramesh). When Ramesh pointed that what he his allegation against Mani was true, George was heard laughing. ^[7]

References