Controversial leader MM Mani to be part of Pinarayi cabinet in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front on Sunday decided to induct CPI(M) leader MM Mani, known for his controversial comments, into the six-month-old Pinarayi Vijayan government.

The senior leader had claimed that in 2012, his party had prepared a list of political opponents and annihilated them one by one. When his remark snowballed into a big controversy, the party removed him from the Idukki district secretary’s post.

The Pinarayi government’s first reshuffle was necessitated with the resignation of industry minister EP Jayarajan, who was forced to quit following a nepotism row after he appointed his nephew and niece in key positions without consulting the party.

Mani is likely to get the power portfolio. Temple affairs minister Kadakampally Surendran will take care of the co-operative department along with tourism and youth affairs, while co-operation minister AC Moyideen will be shifted to industry that was vacated by Jayarajan.

A formal decision in this regard was taken by the CPI(M) state secretariat. Mani, who is also facing some cases, will be sworn in on Monday.

Addressing a public rally in Idukki, Mani had said his party often resorted to political killings and warned that the murder of TP Chandrasekhran (Marxist rebel who was killed in 2012) was not the last one.

“We had prepared a list of 13 and killed the first three, one by one. The first one was shot dead, the second beaten to death and the third was hacked to death,” he said. His speech triggered a nationwide condemnation, forcing the central leadership to disown him. HTC