Jose K. Mani

Jose K. Mani was born to K. M. Mani and Kuttiyama on 29 May 1965 in Pala, Kerala. Jose did his schooling at St. Thomas Primary School, Pala, Montfort School, Yercaud. He attended Loyola College, Chennai for his undergraduate degree and then graduated with a M.B.A from PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore.

He unsuccessfully contested in the parliament election in 2004.[4] He lost to P. C. Thomas in Muvattupuzha constituency. In 2007, he was elected general-secretary of the Kerala Congress (Mani).[1] He won the 2009 Lok Sabha election from the Kottayam constituency, by a margin of more than 70,000 votes over K. Suresh Kurup of CPI(M). He was re-elected in 2014 with a winning margin of 120,599 over Mathew T. Thomas of JD(S).

Jose was a Member of the Lok Sabha Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture for the 15th Lok Sabha. He is the Chairman of Centre for Reform and Research, a youth empowerment society. He is also the President of Vikasana Sena, a youth association associated with Prateeksha Rotary Centre for Mentally Challenged Children.[5]

After the death of Kerala Congress (M) chairman K.M Mani, working chairman P. J. Joseph who merged with Kerala Congress (M) in 2010 tried to take over the party and denied the possibility of election for the position of chairman citing a supposed consensus[6][7]. Majority of the party was against this hostile takeover and they convened a state committee meeting to elect Jose K. Mani as chairman[8]. This was challenged by P. J. Joseph in court and he was granted an interim stay order from lower court[9]. The majority faction now led by Jose K. Mani approached Election Commission of India for relief in November 2019. The commission held numerous hearings and finally passed a majority verdict recognizing faction led by Jose K. Mani as the original Kerala Congress (M)[2]. This was based on the overwhelming majority Jose K. Mani faction had in the party's organizational and legislature wing.

Events leading up to the death of Mani, in particular the Bar scam allegations created a sense of distrust with in the United Democratic Front (Kerala). Death of K. M. Mani further strained already shaky relationship between Kerala Congress (M) and the Indian National Congress. Even though Mani was acquitted of all charges, it was widely believed that the case was a ploy to entrap Mani - a plan hatched with in the United Democratic Front (Kerala) itself [10].

After the death of Mani, UDF was seemingly aligning with the faction led by P. J. Joseph. Joseph denied Jose K. Mani faction their election symbol 'Two Leaves' in the bye-election to Pala (State Assembly constituency) which was represented continuously by K.M. Mani from its inception in 1965 till his death in 2019. Joseph later revealed that the UDF did not ask him to allot the symbol[11]. Jose K. Mani raised written complaints to the UDF leadership about the rebel activity by the Joseph faction during Pala byepolls which were neglected. The relationship hit a new low when Joseph claimed the Kottayam District Panchayat presidentship breaking a previous agreement. UDF asked the Mani faction to give up the post which they denied [12]. UDF expelled Kerala Congress (M) on June 30, 2020 citing the District Panchayat row[13] in a shocking move.

Jose K. Mani and his party Kerala Congress (M) joined the Left Democratic Front (Kerala) in October 2020 after being expelled from United Democratic Front (Kerala)[14][15].

2020 Kerala local elections held in December 2020 proved decisive in Mani's political career. He was able to garner a significant vote share just after joining a new political front. Left Democratic Front (Kerala) swept over central Travancore and High Ranges of Kerala where Kerala Congress (M) have overwhelming support among the farming communities. UDF was practically decimated in these areas where they had great majority previously [16]. This victory solidified his position among party cadres and with in the Left Democratic Front (Kerala).

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