Kerala Congress (M) chairman K.M. Mani made his final journey to Kottayam, where his body was kept for the people to pay their homage on Wednesday night.
The hearse, accompanied by a huge convoy, including family members, travelled from the hospital in Kochi to Kottayam town, even as hundreds thronged the route to catch a glimpse of the departed leader.
As the convoy reached Appanchira, near Vaikom, in the evening, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reached the spot and paid his last respects to the KC(M) patriarch.
The procession reached Kaduthuruthy by 6.15 p.m., where Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan, veteran CPI(M) leader V.S. Achuthanandan, Ministers Kadannappally Ramachandran, E. Chandrasekharan, and A.K. Saseendran, and Indian Union Muslim League leader K.P.A. Majeed paid their homage to the leader.
People’s affection
The affection and popularity enjoyed by Mani was evident as people lined up en route to pay their homage to the leader. The unprecedented public turnout disrupted the schedule of the procession, causing traffic snarls between Ernakulam and Kottayam.
The body was taken to the KC(M) State committee office as the hearse reached Kottayam.
At Thirunakkara
Later, it was taken to the Thirunakkara grounds at the heart of the town where his party, Kerala Congress, was formed in 1964.
Congress general secretary Oommen Chandy, Congress leaders K.C. Joseph, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Kerala Congress (Democratic) leader K. Francis George, and Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader Johny Nellore were present to receive the hearse.
People from all walks of life turned up to catch a last glimpse of the leader. Later, the body was taken to Mani’s residence at Pala. Mani will be accorded full State honours during the funeral ceremony to be held at Pala on Thursday afternoon.