Can it be termed as 'the fall of the arch-angel'? K. M. Mani is Kerala's senior most politician who holds the rarest distinction of being the longest serving minister in the Kerala Government. He also holds the record of winning continuously from Palai (now Pala) legislative constituency ever since its inception in 1965.
The majority people of Pala, a rich, developed and thickly populated town in Kottayam district of Kerala had accepted K.M. Mani (fondly and respectfully called as Mani sir) as a foster son of Pala and their permanent representative to the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
Irrespective of caste, creed and religion K.M Mani was the favorite choice of the constituency for the past 50 years uninterrupted.
Now for the past 86 days, some allegations are leveled against him by one of Kerala's bar hotel owners Biju Ramesh demanding (accepting) huge bribe for re-opening the closed bars as a result of the government's changed policy.
As the accusations and allegations are growing stronger day by day, many people including his own party members and favorites feel that Mani should render his resignation to his ministerial-ship and face the investigation bravely to avoid further hartals and strikes by the opposition parties and more damages and insults to his long attained reputation.
If he dares to step down temporarily from his minister post owing to these strong allegations, and appoints another senior leader like C.F. Thomas (never his own son who is already an M.P.) will reduce damaging his good image further and he could make a grant come back if he is proved innocent after the probe, according to people's public opinion.
On the other hand if he is proved guilty, this should be a great lesson for all the politicians and officials who forget the Holy Bible (Proverbs 15: 27,28) versus, 'greed gives grief'.
