KM Mani: the longest-serving minister in Kerala

Mani's record of 13 budgets are unmatched in India
K M Mani presenting 1983-84 state budget in Kerala Assembly. File photo
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K M Mani was first elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1965 from the just-formed Pala assembly constituency. He went on to win the next 12 elections, a feat unmatched in Kerala's electoral history. Pala stood by Mani even in the 2016 polls which were conducted in the shadow of a bribery scandal that tainted him and another minister in the previous UDF government.

Mani's debut as an MLA was a non-starter. It was a hung assembly. He was sworn in as a legislator after he retained the constituency in 1967. He is the only leader in Kerala to have served as a legislator for 50 years. He broke the record of K R Gowri in March 2014.

Mani also holds a slew of other records. He is the longest-serving minister in the state. He has served in 12 ministries. He has presented 13 budgets as finance minister. The veteran was selected to lead a high-power council of state finance ministers.

Mani's record of 13 budgets are unmatched in India
K M Mani presenting his 13th budget in Kerala Assembly in 2015. File photo

The Pala MLA identified himself with the cause of rubber planters. His first question in the assembly was about a slide in rubber prices.

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