Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Congress (Mani) chairman K.M. Mani is unlikely to attend election campaign meetings for the first time since 1965.
The 86-year-old is staying away from the campaigning due to ill health.
Mr Mani got admitted to a hospital in Kochi a day after his party chose Thomas Chazhikadan as the KC (M) candidate in Kottayam to succeed his son Jose K. Mani.
A senior leader said it is doubtful that he will participate in election campaigning anywhere this time.
“He’s feeling short of breath after walking a few steps,” he told this newspaper.
“He had the habit of pressing his chest and coughing in between while talking. The other day, he called up a bereaved NSS general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair over the phone and spoke very briefly.”
His son had on Tuesday informed party workers that he had been daily discussing with him on the poll scenario.
UDF leaders have also been enquiring about his health condition every day. But they had no idea when he will get discharged.
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