Update: KM Mani passed away on Tuesday, April 9. He was 86.
One of the tallest politicians in Kerala and Kerala Congress (M) supremo, KM Mani has been admitted at the Lakeshore hospital in Kochi reportedly with serious ailments. Though there were rumours that he had been put on ventilator support, the hospital has rejected them.
“He had been semi-conscious for the past few days. The food intake is very less. But he is not on ventilator,” a hospital source said.
A press release issued by the hospital says, “Hon. KM Mani is under treatment in our hospital under Dr Hari Lakshmanan, chief pulmonologist, Dept of Pulmonology for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) with chest infection. He is being treated as per the existing standards of care.”
The release further states that close medical supervision is being carried out to monitor daily progress and visitors have been strictly prohibited so as to prevent further infections and provide effective medical care.
Hospital spokesperson Maya told TNM that he is suffering from wheezing as well. “He was admitted last week on Thursday,” she said.
Mani has been undergoing treatment at the hospital for some time now.
The hospital, however, didn’t reveal details about his ailment.
According to a source in Kottayam, his health has deteriorated drastically recently.
The 86-year-old veteran politician has been heading the KC(M), ever since it was formed in 1979 after splitting from the Kerala Congress. He is chairman of the party, the stronghold of which is Kottayam and several regions in the neighbouring districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta.
Mani has a political career spanning more than five decades.
Among the spilt factions of the Kerala Congress, only a few still exist and KC(M) is the most prominent among them.
Mani has other unique distinctions to his credit - he is the longest-serving member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly as well as the longest-serving minister in the state. He has held various portfolios like Revenue, Law, Irrigation, Home and Finance. He has been representing Pala constituency all these years in the state Assembly. He has presented 13 budgets as Finance Minister, another unique achievement.
Mani has been the most single influential leader in the region, especially among the Christian community. KC(M) is a constituent of the Congress-led UDF.
Mani’s son and party’s vice-chairman, Jose K Mani is a Rajya Sabha MP.