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) | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | KEC(M) |
| Chairman | Jose K. Mani |
| Rajya Sabha Leader | Jose K. Mani |
| Founder | K. M. Mani |
| Founded | 1979; 45 years ago (1979) |
| Split from | Kerala Congress |
| Headquarters | State Committee Office, Near Fire Station, Kottayam[1] |
| Newspaper | Prathichaya weekly |
| Student wing | Kerala Students Congress (M) |
| Youth wing | Kerala Youth Front (M) |
| Women's wing | Kerala Vanitha Congress (M) |
| Labour wing | Kerala Trade Union Congress (M) |
| Ideology | Welfare[2] Democratic socialism[3] |
| Political position | Centre-lefttoleft-wing |
| Colours | White and Red |
| ECI Status | State 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 | |
|
| |
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.
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.
| 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) |
| P.C George | Chief Whip (2011-2015) |
| Thomas Unniyadan | Chief Whip (June–November 2015) |
| Minister | Ministry |
|---|---|
| K. M. Mani | Minister for Law & Revenue |
| C. F. Thomas | Minister for Rural Development |
| 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.
| 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
| 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 |
Jose K. Mani is the Chairman of the party since 2020.