Dr K. S. Manoj resigned from all responsibilities in a local committee and from the primary membership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Manoj had left Kerala for Delhi after he lost a recent election in the coastal town of Alleppey in Kerala.

In a brief letter written to the party authorities,
Dr. Manoj stated his reasons for quitting.

The letter goes like this: "Comrade, One of the guidelines issued to members as a part of the various amendments recommended by the Central Committee Meeting says that members of the party should not organize religious functions or observe any religious ritual. I understand that these guidelines are applicable to me, a member of the Thumboli local committee.

"I will not be able to follow this party directive whole-heaertedly because I am a theist and because I value my religious faith more than any ideology. This directive of the party [that members stay away from religion] is contrary to the Constitution of India and is not mandated the party's constitution. Such a directive has to reviewed by the party. Imposition of atheism on members is not suitable to the Indian context. Due to my inability to follow this directive, I resign from the Thumboli local committee and from the primary membership of the party."

The CPM was quick to react to this development. Party officials tried to contain any potential damage by stating that there are several party members who believe in God and are active in their respective religions.

Dr Manoj had resigned from the Trivandrum Medical College in 1994 to contest Lok Sabha elections. He won against V M Sudheeran with a wide margin. At that time, he was not a member of the CPM. Later, he joined CPM and became a member of the local committee. In 1994, when he contested elections, Dr Manoj was the President of the Latin Catholic Association of his diocese.

Dr Manoj now works as anesthetist in St. Stephen's Hospital, Delhi. He is married to Susanna Abraham who works in St Stephen's as gynecologist.