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, on Sunday (December 14, 2025) expressed contrition that he had risked bringing disrepute to his party by blaming “ungrateful” social welfare pension beneficiaries for the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) poor showing in the local body polls. 

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After the LDF took a harsh battering at the hustings on Saturday (December 13), Mr. Mani snapped back by stating that State Government-disbursed social welfare pensions put food on the table of the people who turned “against us [LDF]” at the ballot. 

Mr. Mani, a colourful raconteur whose rustic remarks have, in the past, put the CPI(M) in the spot, is a former Power Minister and currently represents the Udumbumchola Assembly constituency in the Idukki district.

Mr. Mani’s latest “gaffe” appeared to presage a further propaganda disaster for the LDF, already reeling from the “unlooked-for” flogging it received at the ballot box on 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, differently abled individuals and agricultural 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 welfare pension was an inalienable right and not CPI(M)’s charity. 

CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby sought to distance the party and government from Mr. Mani’s “indiscretion”. He stated that Mr. Mani’s words did not reflect the government party’s stance on the matter. 

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

Nevertheless, Mr. Mani said the LDF had ushered in development and welfare that had drastically altered Kerala’s socio-economic landscape, as evidenced by the State’s high physical quality-of-life index.