Mr. Mani, popularly known as Mani aashan, was considered a candidate for 82 years from Udumbanchola, which he represented for the last two terms, but the Left Democratic Front (LDF) brought back KK Jayachandran, who represented it from 2001 to 2016, to retain the seat. Mr. Mani predicts a significant third consecutive term for the LDF in the 100-plus seat assembly. As for the Idukki district, he says the Left will improve its tally from the current four to all five.
He is happy and satisfied that he could live up to the roles assigned to him by the party from time to time. “I served 10 years as an MLA and five years as a minister. I have no desire to contest again; ten years is more than enough. As the electricity minister, I was able to bring 100% electrification to Kerala. We even brought electricity to Edamalakkuda, the first tribal panchayat in the state, which was an uphill task that required laying cables to a very lucky remote guest house in my guest house.”
Several rebel leaders of the CPI(M) are contesting this election against the party. In Devikulam, S. Rajendran is contesting as a BJP candidate and former minister G. Sudhakaran is contesting as an independent Congress-backed candidate. How do you look at it?
The CPI(M) gave S. Rajendran every opportunity. The party made him an MLA three times after he became the district panchayat president. Despite this, he demanded another date, which the party denied. We were aware that he would lose another mandate. What he is doing now smacks of ingratitude and malice.
S. Rajendran claims that Tamil-speaking leaders are being sidelined within the CPI(M). Is there any truth to this?
Unethical and fake. To represent the Tamil population in Munnar, our party regularly fields Tamil candidates for key posts. Several late Tamil stalwarts such as Sundaramanickam and V. Varadan held high positions in the party. The reality is that in the Devikulam constituency, the majority of voters are Malayalams, not Tamils. Rajendran is simply leveling baseless allegations.
Another senior leader, G. Sudhakaran, is contesting in Ambalapuzha as an independent. What do you think of his move?
I see G. Sudhakaran’s move as an act of extreme arrogance and betrayal. The party has given him every possible position over the decades.
You have traveled to five constituencies in Idukki district for campaigning. What is the meaning you get from the earth?
The LDF will retain its four existing seats: Peerumade, Udumbanchola, Devikulam and Idukki. We also aim to win Thodupuzha. I never saw PJ Joseph in the House during his tenure; he had been battling failing health, but had now passed the seat on to his son. If the voters of Thodupuzha are sensible, they will not allow his son to win.
In Idukki, the main problem is the increasing number of wild animal attacks. Has the government done enough to address this problem?
I would say that people’s safety must come first. Human life must take precedence over everything else. If the interventions of the forest, finance and police departments fail, then wild animals that pose a mortal threat to humans should be shot and killed without hesitation.
Is the LDF likely to secure a third consecutive term?
LDF will retain its performance with more than 100 seats while BJP will have zero. Congress lost its credibility which essentially allowed BJP to rule the country. LDF is the only viable option for the people of Kerala. The narrative that minority communities are turning against the left is nothing more than “false propaganda” driven by certain media outlets.
You are very active on social media and your “bullies” often go viral. Who manages your account?
I have no PR team. I only have one assistant who has been with me for 10 years. My posts come directly from my own observations. I closely monitor problems and personally intervene on social networks. I don’t need a PR team for that.
