The CPI(M) state Secretariat said action against Mani was taken as he had deviated from the party's stand in the controversial speech made at a public meeting in Idukki recently.
CPI(M) Politburo had also directed the state unit to take disciplinary action against Mani, who had remained defiant and refused to quit the post despite all round condemnation of his speech and police filing murder cases against him.
"Mani's speech had been used by CPI(M)'s enemies to attack the party. The party had no role in the murders that took place in Idukki district in the past, as the Congress-led UDF and a section of the media being propagated," the CPI(M) said in a release at the end of its two-day Secretariat meeting.
While removing Mani from the party post, the Secretariat also sought an explanation from him for his speech. (MORE)