Congress Suspends Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations
The Congress party has suspended Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil from its primary membership for six months following serious allegations of sexual misconduct. The action follows his resignation as Youth Congress president last week. The accusations include coercion, threats, and a purported audio clip of him forcing a woman into an abortion. The party has opted for suspension over demanding his resignation from the Assembly, a move seen as an attempt to avoid a potentially damaging by-election in Palakkad.
Unpacked:
The main accusers include Malayalam actor Rini Ann George, writer Honey Bhaskaran, and a transgender activist. They allege that Mamkootathil sent sexually explicit messages, made threats, coerced a woman into an abortion, and expressed violent sexual fantasies. Some accusations also include persistent harassment through social media and attempts to lure victims to hotels.
The Congress party opted for suspension rather than demanding his resignation to avoid a by-election in Palakkad, which could be politically risky. By suspending him from party activities but not the Assembly, the party aims to manage internal and public pressures without triggering an immediate electoral contest.
Opposition parties, including the BJP and the CPI(M)-affiliated youth group DYFI, have strongly condemned Mamkootathil and demanded his resignation as MLA. They claim there may be more victims and have used the incident to criticize the Congress's handling of sexual harassment allegations within its ranks.
Rahul Mamkootathil was considered a rising star in Kerala's Congress, winning the Palakkad Assembly by-election in November 2024 with a record margin. He recently served as Youth Congress president and was seen as a symbol of the party's renewed strength until the misconduct allegations surfaced.