Kerala Congress (Mani) or KEC(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 LDF since October 2020.[5][6]

Kerala Congress (Mani)
കേരള കോൺഗ്രസ്‌ (മാണി)
AbbreviationKEC(M)
ChairmanJose K. Mani
Rajya Sabha LeaderJose K. Mani
FounderK. M. Mani
Founded1979; 45 years ago (1979)
Split fromKerala Congress
HeadquartersState Committee Office, Near Fire Station, Kottayam[1]
NewspaperPrathichaya weekly
Student wingKerala Students Congress (M)
Youth wingKerala Youth Front (M)
Women's wingKerala Vanitha Congress (M)
Labour wingKerala Trade Union Congress (M)
IdeologyDemocratic socialism[2][3]
Political positionLeft-wing
ColoursWhite and Red
ECI StatusState Party[4]
Alliance(1979-1989), (2020- present)
Seats in Lok Sabha
0 / 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
Party flag
Website
www.keralacongressm.co.in

History

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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 KEC(M) and formed the Janadhipathya Kerala Congress in 2016. KEC(M) quit the UDF in 2016[8] citing issues with in the UDF, and rejoined it in June 2018 after reconciliation.

Split

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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

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2011
Minister Ministry
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)
  • (After split changed to Kerala Congress (J))
P. C. George
  • Chief Whip (2011–2015)
Thomas Unniyadan
  • Chief Whip (June–November 2015)
2001
Minister Ministry
K. M. Mani
  • Minister for Law & Revenue
C. F. Thomas
  • Minister for Rural Development
1991
Minister Ministry
K. M. Mani
  • Minister for Law & Revenue
Narayana Kurup
  • Deputy Speaker

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

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

On 18 May 2021, the LDF 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.

Members of Kerala Legislative Assembly

Members of Parliament

Electoral performance

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Loksabha election results in Kerala
Election Year Alliance Seats contested Seats won Total Votes Percentage of votes +/- Vote
2024 LDF 1
0 / 20
277,365 1.38%   0.70%
2019 UDF 1
1 / 20
421,046 2.08%   0.28%
2014 UDF 1
1 / 20
424,194 2.36%   0.17%
2009 UDF 1
1 / 20
404,962 2.53%   1.14%
2004 UDF 1
0 / 20
209,880 1.39%   0.91%
1999 UDF 1
1 / 20
357,402 2.30%   0.10%
1998 UDF 1
1 / 20
356,168 2.40%   0.26%
1996 UDF 1
1 / 20
356,168 2.66%   0.04%
1991 UDF 1
1 / 20
384,255 2.70%   0.34%
1989 UDF 1
1 / 20
352,191 2.36% New


Kerala Legislative Assembly election results
Election Year Alliance Seats contested Seats won Total Votes Percentage of votes +/- Vote
2021 LDF 12
5 / 140
684,363 3.28%   0.71%
2016 UDF 15
5 / 140
807,718 3.99%   0.95%
2011 UDF 15
9 / 140
861,829 4.94%   1.68%
2006 UDF 11
7 / 140
507,349 3.26%   0.28%
2001 UDF 11
9 / 140
556,647 3.54%   0.36%
1996 UDF 10
5 / 140
453,614 3.18%   1.14%
1991 UDF 13
10 / 140
611,702 4.32%   1.54%
1982 UDF 17
6 / 140
559,930 5.86%   0.61%
1980 LDF 17
8 / 140
500,894 5.25% New

Party Organisation

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

Other Notable leaders

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See also

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References

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  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. ^ "K M Mani honoured at British Parliament Hall". The New Indian Express. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  3. ^ "KM Mani: The man behind the 'Theory of the Toiling Class'". The New Indian Express. 10 April 2019. 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. ^ a b "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.
  10. ^ "Profile - Minister for Water Resources". minister-waterresources.kerala.gov.in. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Members Profile". niyamasabha.nic.in. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Members Profile". www.niyamasabha.nic.in. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Members of KLA".
  • G. Gopa Kumar. “Kerala: Verdict against Non-Performance and Congress Factionalism.” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 39, no. 51, 2004, pp. 5498–5501. JSTOR 4415940.