In an attempt to regain its political ground by keeping various communities in good humour in its home turf, the Kerala Congress faction led by Finance Minister K M Mani has closed ranks with the Orthodox Syrian Church, which was cut up with the outfit ever since the then sitting MLA from Kallooppara, Joseph M Puthuserry, was denied a seat to contest the Assembly polls in 2011. Apart from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the only other legislator belonging to the Orthodox Church denomination was Joseph M Puthuserry, which infuriated the Church followers. The Nair Service Society (NSS) had also expressed its strong reservations on the sidelining of the former legislator.
Mani himself has drawn up a plan to salvage the lost ground of the party owing to the rift with the Orthodox Church, even as the party continues to remain a formidable political force in Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts. With the church hierarchy not ready for a compromise by sacrificing the former MLA and dropping hints that the same approach would be continued in the next Parliamentary polls also, Mani moved his cards carefully and and managed to bring about a truce, it is reliably learnt. Mani’s political heir and son Jose K Mani is representing the Kottayam Lok Sabha segment in Parliament. The restoration of the former MLA in an honourable way in the party will be formalised at the steering committee meet of the party on October 7, followed by the state committee on Monday and party madalam presidents’ meet on the next day in Kottayam. ‘’I am particular that the the affair should be hundred percent smooth, without even a single murmur of protest,’’ Mani told ‘Express.
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