A controversial leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who once admitted his party had often killed its rivals, was yesterday appointed a minister in Kerala.
M M Mani replaces E P Jayarajan, who had to resign following nepotism charges.
Reports said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was planning to reallocate portfolios and make Mani the new power minister. 
Kadanapally Surendran, who was the power minister, will now get the Co-operation and Youth Affairs portfolio, which was held by A C Moideen, who becomes the new industries minister.
However, CPM secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the party has not discussed reshuffling which is a prerogative of the chief minister. 
“A three-day meeting of the state committee of the party which concluded today has decided to propose Mani as the party’s nominee in place of Jayarajan,” he told reporters here.
“Allocation of portfolios is a prerogative of the chief minister.”
Jayarajan, who was expecting to make a comeback, reportedly left the meeting midway in protest. Considered close to Vijayan, he was the No2 in the cabinet.
The 71-year-old Mani known for his vitriolic attacks on political rivals, officials and even academics, is a novice in administration.
His choice came as a surprise to many as the names of more sophisticated and educated leaders like Suresh Kurup were doing the rounds.
Mani is a school dropout.
An affidavit he submitted to the Election Commissions says he has several criminal cases including obstructing government officials discharging their duties.
The trade union leader possesses self-declared assets worth Rs378,949 with no inherited properties, and he does not have a permanent account number (PAN). He also has not filed income tax returns so far.
The last criminal case registered against him was for abusing the lady principal of a polytechnic and an officer who protected her during a violent strike by the student outfit of the CPM.
In 2007 he sparked outrage when he threatened to chop off then chief minister and CPM veteran Achuthanandan’s hands if he entered the high ranges with his mission to demolish illegal structures.
In 2012, police arrested him after he told a rally that his party had killed political rivals and they would continue to do so in future too. His comments related to political killings in his Idukki district in the 1980s.
He was charged with “murder, conspiracy and destroying evidence.”
A year later the Kerala High Court acquitted him saying he did not mention any particular name, which the Supreme Court also upheld. He clarified that he was only narrating the history of resistance put up by the party in the past.