M.M. Mani expresses contrition for blaming ‘ungrateful’ social welfare pension beneficiaries for LDF’s poll losses

Veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader, M.M. Mani, connected Sunday (December 14, 2025) expressed contrition that helium had risked bringing disrepute to his enactment by blaming “ungrateful” societal payment pension beneficiaries for the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) mediocre showing successful the section assemblage polls. 

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After the LDF took a harsh battering astatine the hustings connected Saturday (December 13), Mr. Mani snapped backmost by stating that State Government-disbursed societal payment pensions enactment nutrient connected the array of the radical who turned “against america [LDF]” astatine the ballot. 

Mr. Mani, a colourful raconteur whose rustic remarks have, successful the past, enactment the CPI(M) successful the spot, is simply a erstwhile Power Minister and presently represents the Udumbumchola Assembly constituency successful the Idukki district.

Mr. Mani’s latest “gaffe” appeared to presage a further propaganda catastrophe for the LDF, already reeling from the “unlooked-for” flogging it received astatine the ballot container connected Saturday (December 13). 

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan had weaponised Mr. Mani’s “slip” to assail the beleaguered ruling LDF further. 

He alleged Mr Mani’s “invective” against an estimated 62-lakh low-income persons, including the elderly, widows, unmarried women, otherwise abled individuals and cultivation workers, was evocative of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]’s “barely concealed contempt” for society’s lesser privileged sections. 

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph, MLA, said payment pension was an inalienable close and not CPI(M)’s charity. 

CPI(M) wide caput M.A. Baby sought to region the enactment and authorities from Mr. Mani’s “indiscretion”. He stated that Mr. Mani’s words did not bespeak the authorities party’s stance connected the matter. 

Mr. Malik told reporters successful Idukki that helium accepted the party’s criticism. “With hindsight, Saturday’s (December 13) governmental circumstances prompted the ill-considered statement. It was an avoidable mistake. I wholeheartedly judge the party’s criticism, helium added. 

Nevertheless, Mr. Mani said the LDF had ushered successful improvement and payment that had drastically altered Kerala’s socio-economic landscape, arsenic evidenced by the State’s precocious carnal quality-of-life index.