Kerala Congress (M) is a state-level political party in the

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

n state of

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

, currently led by chairman

Jose K. Mani Jose Karingozhackal Mani (born 29 May 1965) is an Indian politician and Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and former Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Kerala. He is the son of veteran politician K. M. Mani and the Chairman of Kerala Congress ...

. It was formed by

K. M. Mani Karingozhackal Mani Mani (30 January 1933 – 9 April 2019) was an Indian politician and the chairman of Kerala Congress (M), one of the main factions of Kerala Congress, a party born in the Travancore or Central South Kerala region which foc ...

in 1979, after a split from the

Kerala Congress Kerala Congress is an Indian political party founded at Kottayam, Kerala in October, 1964, by a block of former Indian National Congress leaders led by K. M. George. The party is primarily active in central Kerala. The establishment of Kerala ...

. They are part of the

Left Democratic Front The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is an alliance of left-wing political parties in the state of Kerala, India. It is the current ruling political alliance of Kerala, since 2016. It is one of the two major political alliances in Kerala, the oth ...

since October 2020.

History

Kerala Congress (M) was formed in 1979 after a split in

party. After a series of splits and mergers, Kerala Congress faction of P. J. Joseph merged with Kerala Congress(M). It split again when some leaders including Francis George, Dr. K. C. Joseph, Antony Raju and P. C. Joseph resigned from Kerala Congress (M) and formed the

Janadhipathya Kerala Congress Janadhipathya Kerala Congress is a political party in Kerala. It was formed on 9 March 2016, through a split from the Kerala Congress (M) History On 2016 before Kerala Assembly elections a fight occurs in Kerala Congress (M) about seats and whe ...

in 2016. Kerala Congress (M) quit the United Democratic Front (UDF) in 2016 citing issues with in the UDF, and rejoined it in June 2018 after reconciliation.

Split

A power struggle erupted in the party after the death of Kerala Congress (M) chairman

. One faction was led by his son

and another was led by senior leader

P. J. Joseph Palathinal Joseph Joseph (born 10 June 1941) is an Indian politician from Kerala Congress serving as the Member of the Legislative Assembly from Thodupuzha Assembly Constituency in Kerala. A former cabinet minister, Joseph entered Kerala poli ...

. The Election Commission intervened and it ruled in favor of Jose K Mani. The commission passed a verdict recognizing the faction led by

as the Kerala Congress (M). This was challenged by

in court and he was granted an interim stay order. The Jose faction approached the

Supreme Court of India The Supreme Court of India ( IAST: ) is the supreme judicial authority of India and is the highest court of the Republic of India under the constitution. It is the most senior constitutional court, has the final decision in all legal matters ...

and it agreed with the Election Commission's verdict. UDF Convener

Benny Behanan Benny Behanan (born 22 August 1952) is an Indian politician from Kerala. He is a member of the Indian National Congress party who serves as Member of Parliament from Chalakudy (Lok Sabha constituency). He was the MLA of Thrikkakara Legislativ ...

met with Jose K Mani and following the meeting, he announced that the Jose faction was expelled from UDF as a result of a dispute in Kottayam district panchayat. Later Kerala Congress (M) joined LDF.

Ministers from the Kerala Congress (M) faction

With
Left Democratic Front (Kerala) The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is an alliance of left-wing political parties in the state of Kerala, India. It is the current ruling political alliance of Kerala, since 2016. It is one of the two major political alliances in Kerala, the oth ...
(2020-Present)

Kerala Congress (M) joined hands with LDF for the 2020 Kerala local elections held in December and also for the

2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election The 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election was held in Kerala on 6 April 2021 to elect 140 members to the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly. The results were declared on 2 May. The election saw the incumbent Left Democratic Front (LDF) reta ...

. However KEC(M) allegedly allowed a CPI(M) party member to contest as a KEC(M) candidate from

Piravom (State Assembly constituency) Piravom State assembly constituency is one of the 140 state legislative assembly constituencies in Kerala state in southern India. It is also one of the 7 state legislative assembly constituencies included in the Kottayam Lok Sabha constit ...

. In the

, KEC(M) contested 12 seats and won 5 of them. However, KEC(M) chairman Jose K. Mani lost from

Pala (State Assembly constituency) Pala State assembly constituency is one of the 140 state legislative assembly constituencies in Kerala state in southern India. It is also one of the 7 state legislative assembly constituencies included in the Kottayam Lok Sabha constituenc ...

to incumbent MLA

Mani C. Kappan Mani C. Kappan (born 1956) is an Indian politician, film producer, film director and actor. He is the current Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of the state of Kerala for the Pala constituency. Mani C. Kappan defeated Jose Tom Pulikkunn ...

of the

Nationalist Congress Kerala Democratic Congress Kerala, is a political party in Kerala, India, formed after the split in Nationalist Congress Party in Kerala. It is led by Mani C. Kappan. Formation Mani C. Kappan and his Nationalist Congress Party were part of the ruling Le ...

for 15,378 votes. The loss of this seat is a considered a major setback for Jose K. Mani, as Pala was the original constituency represented by his late father,

, for 49 years from 1967 to 2016.

Ministers Of the Kerala Congress (M) faction With LDF

On 18 May 2021, the

Left Democratic Front (Kerala) The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is an alliance of left-wing political parties in the state of Kerala, India. It is the current ruling political alliance of Kerala, since 2016. It is one of the two major political alliances in Kerala, the oth ...

and KEC (M) declared that

Kanjirappally (State Assembly constituency) Kanjirappally State assembly constituency is one of the 140 state legislative assembly constituencies at the state Kerala in southern India. It is also one of the 7 state legislative assembly constituencies included in the Pathanamthitta Lok ...

MLA

N. Jayaraj Dr. Narayana Kurup Jayaraj (Malayalam: എന്‍. ജയരാജ്‌‌) (born 1 January 1956) is an Indian politician and is the current Chief Whip and MLA representing Kerala Congress (M), KCM. Son of Shri K. Narayana Kurup and Smt. K ...

is to be the chief whip of the alliance.

Idukki (State Assembly constituency) Idukki State assembly constituency is one of the 140 state legislative assembly constituencies in Kerala state in southern India. It is also one of the 7 state legislative assembly constituencies included in the Idukki Lok Sabha constituency ...

MLA

Roshy Augustine Roshy Augustine (born 20 January 1969) is an Indian politician serving as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (M.L.A.) of the Kerala Legislative Assembly from Idukki since 2001. He is part of the Kerala Congress (M) party and is the curren ...

is set to become a minister.

Party Organisation

is the Chairman of the party since 2020.

Other Notable leaders

* K.M Mani, founder * K. Narayana Kurup *

Mammen Mathai Mammen Mathai was a member of the 9th, 10th, and 11th Kerala Legislative Assembly. He was from Kerala Congress (M) party and represented the Thiruvalla constituency. Positions held * Chairman, Committee of petitions, Kerala Legislative Assembl ...

References

*G. Gopa Kumar. “Kerala: Verdict against Non-Performance and Congress Factionalism.” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 39, no. 51, 2004, pp. 5498–5501. . {{United Progressive Alliance , state=collapsed Member parties of the United Progressive Alliance Political parties in Kerala State political parties in Kerala Kerala Congress Parties Recognised state political parties in India Political parties established in 1979 1979 establishments in Kerala