Rahul Gandhi visits family members KC(M) leader KM Mani

Pala (Ker), Apr 16 Congress President Rahul Gandhi Tuesday paid a visit to the bereaved family members of Kerala Congress (M) leader and former state minister K M Mani, who died last week.

Gandhi, who came to here Monday evening in the wake of tending to race crusade gatherings in Pathanapuram and Pathanamthitta, went through around 10 minutes with the relatives of the late pioneer of Kerala Congress (M) at his habitation here.

Mani's child and Rajya Sabha MP Jose K Mani got Gandhi and the Congress leaders who went with him, at his residence.

Before meeting the relatives, Gandhi paid flower tributes to Mani's photograph kept at the living arrangement.

"He (Mani) was a towering leader, voice of people of Kerala. So it is a respect for me to come here and offer my regards," Gandhi told reporters after meeting Mani's family members.

He said Mani, as a senior leader with tremendous experience, was "someone I would tune in to and appreciate."

Gandhi was joined by senior Congress leaders including Oommen Chandy, Ramesh Chennithala, Mullappally Ramachandran, K C Venugopal and Mukul Wasnik.

Afterward, Gandhi left for Alappuzha for tending to a decision battle meeting there.

Mani died on April 9 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi for pulmonary disease.

The Kerala Congress (M) founded by Mani is a third biggest accomplice in the Congress-drove UDF in Kerala.