K.M. Mani, Kerala’s longest-serving MLA who was elected to the Assembly 13 consecutive times from Pala over 54 years, passed away on Tuesday. He was 86.

Chairman of the Kerala Congress (Mani), a party dominant in the Christian belt of southern Kerala, Mani had been in a critical condition after being hospitalised on Friday with respiratory problems. He had been suffering from COPD for several years.

Just before taking ill, Mani had named his close confidant Thomas Chazhikadan as the United Democratic Front UDF candidate for the Kottayam Lok Sabha seat.

Mani represented the Pala since 1965.