Jose K. Mani

Political Life

He unsuccessfully contested the parliament election in 2004 from Muvattupuzha constituency, losing to P. C. Thomas who contested as the candidate of National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In 2007, he was elected as the General Secretary of Kerala Congress (Mani) party. 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).

He is also the President of Vikasana Sena, a youth association associated with Prateeksha Rotary Centre for Mentally Challenged Children.

As Chairman of Kerala Congress (M)

After the death of KEC(M) chairman K.M Mani, a power struggle erupted in the party between Jose K. Mani faction and P. J. Joseph faction. The Election Commission intervened and ruled in favor of Jose K Mani. Later, the faction led by P.J Joseph merged with Kerala Congress and faction led by Jose K Mani elected K.M Mani's son Jose K Mani as the Chairman of Kerala Congress (M).

Expulsion from UDF

After the death of KM Mani, as per a previous agreement, UDF asked the Mani faction to give up the post of Kottayam District Panchayat presidency which they dismissed. UDF expelled KEC(M) from the alliance on 30 June 2020 citing the District Panchayat presidency dispute. Later, Jose K. Mani and his party KEC(M), joined the LDF(Kerala) in October 2020.

With [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|Left Democratic Front]] (2020-Present)

Kerala Congress (M) joined hands with the LDF for the 2020 Kerala local elections held in December and also for the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election. It is alleged that KC(M) allowed a CPI(M) party member to contest as a KEC(M) candidate in the Piravom (State Assembly constituency). During the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, Jose K. Mani was defeated from Pala constituency for more than 15,000 votes to the UDF candidate Mani C. Kappan.

Personal life

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

References

References

1. (2007-09-29). "Kerala News: Jose K. Mani elected general secretary". The Hindu.
2. "ECI order dated 30.8.2020 in Kerala Congress (M) Dispute".
3. (November 21, 2020). "'Two leaves' for Jose K Mani; Kerala HC backs poll panel order".
4. "Candidate Statistics Jose K Mani: Indian General Elections – Lok Sabha Elections". [[CNN-IBN]].
5. (June 20, 2020). "Mani faction dismisses UDF's demand to resign from panchayat president post". Uni India.
6. (2020-06-30). "UDF expels Kerala Congress faction led by Jose K Mani".
7. (2020-10-14). "Kerala Congress (M) Jose K Mani faction joins LDF".
8. (2020-10-19). "Explained: Why has Kerala Congress (M) decided to switch to the LDF?".
9. (12 March 2021). "Jose picking "CPM nominees"? | Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India".
10. (3 May 2021). "Kerala: Camps swapped but (M). Kappen still towers over Jose K Mani in Pala | Kochi News - Times of India".
11. "Digital Sansad".
12. (2010-08-14). "Vikram blasts into his past". The Times of India.