Veteran politician and founder of the Kerala Congress party (M), KM Mani (86), passed away on Tuesday at Kochi’s Lakeshore hospital due to respiratory illness.
Politician and founder of Kerala Congress (M), K M Mani passed away at Kochi yesterday. He had been a part of the Kerala State Legislative assembly for 52 years. Mani was admitted at the Lakeshore hospital in Kochi since last Thursday because of respiratory illness and breathed his last around 5.15 p.m.
The body of the deceased will be taken to the headquarters of Kerala Congress (M) today and to Thirunakkara maidan at Kottayam. His body will thereafter be shifted to his home in Pala.
Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted about the demise of KM Mani saying it had brought a great loss to the state.
Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of veteran politician Shri. KM Mani. He was a tall leader who worked tirelessly to serve our State. His demise is a loss to the political life of Kerala. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) April 9, 2019
Mani had been a leader of the Kerala Congress (M) party from its beginning in 1979, after the split of the original Kerala Congress. He has many titles to his honour including the title of the Finance Minister and the Law Minister of the state of Kerala
He was asked to resign in 2015 when he was caught up in allegations of a bribery case as giving license to pubs and bars in exchange for bribes. Mani was survived by his wife and five children at Pala.
In his biography, ‘Anubhavangal Adiyochukkukal,’ George J Mathew, an ex MP from Kanjirapally in Kerala has stated how he was backstabbed by KM Mani.