At the political crossroads, Kerala Congress factions navigate legacy and evolution in central Travancore

At the political crossroads, Kerala Congress factions navigate legacy and evolution in central Travancore

On April 9, Kottayam bore witness to two distinct events commemorating the 5th death anniversary of K.M. Mani, the Kerala Congress patriarch.

While Jose K. Mani, the late leader’s son and current chairman of the Kerala Congress (M), paid his respects with floral tributes at the Thirunakkara ground in Kottayam, P.J. Joseph, chairman of the rival faction, laid a floral wreath at the late leader’s tomb at St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala.

The parallel occurrence of these events, set against the backdrop of a critical election phase for the competing Kerala Congress factions in Kottayam, symbolises the political dynamics unfolding in central Travancore.

After dominating the rubber heartlands for many years, the Kerala Congress factions find themselves at a crossroads, balancing between their long-standing support from settler farmers and the evolving preferences of second-generation voters who are increasingly aligning with mainstream political parties. Despite this shift, strategic restructuring and positioning have enabled the factions to maintain their importance as key political intermediaries, particularly in connecting major political coalitions with the Christian heartlands in the region.

Following the death of K.M. Mani, the KC(M) experienced a vertical split, with Jose K. Mani and P.J. Joseph leading separate factions just two months afterwards. Approximately one and a half years later, the KC(M) broke its nearly four-decade-old ties with the United Democratic Front (UDF) to join the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

Subsequently, the faction became a linchpin in the Left front’s strategy to expand its influence into the traditional UDF strongholds of central Travancore. In the ensuing local body elections, held a few months later, the region spanning Kottayam, Idukki, and Pathanamthitta districts leaned towards the Left.

In the subsequent year’s Assembly elections, the newly formed alliance demonstrated its resilience, leveraging support from the KC(M) to extend its footprint across the region, securing five Assembly seats.