Television news crews turned their cameras to Pala whenever a revelation shook Kerala’s political landscape. Kerala Congress (M) chairman K M Mani never disappointed the soundbite-hungry journalists. When we pressed him for something more for Manorama, he would call us inside his house and serve us with more comments. He never took off his eyes from the reporter’s notepad, always ensuring that the reporter wrote the right thing.
Mani has many records to his credit. All said and done, he was a reference point for Kerala politics. Mani and Pala became inseparable during the course of his life. Pala will continue to bear fond memories of its long-serving representative.
Mani departs just weeks short of a crucial general election. Reporters would surely miss the candid analyses and predictions from the veteran. Mani did not mind revealing his mind to reporters close to him, with a stern warning to be off the record.
Mani's laugh became familiar in Kerala as television news became popular. He was one leader who deftly negotiated the tricky questions of the reporters. When asked about his disarming laugh, he once said, “What could I do? I have a habit of living the moment, be it happy or sad. Some people say that it is a made-up laughter. But could I have stayed amid people with something artificial?”
It was a good idea to meet him during evening tea. He was bound to discuss politics with all candidness then. He was well-versed in the development of regional parties in India, be in the National Conference, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam or the Kerala Congress.
He rued a lack of unity among regional parties. Whenever different factions stood together, he was confident of making giant strides. His departure would be a setback for the Kerala Congress.
