The issue has become the centre of a tug-of-war within the party, with support for Mamkootathil growing. The absence of any formal complaint from the alleged victims has given the party added confidence.
Published Sep 06, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 06, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Rahul Mamkootathil. (Facebook)
Synopsis: Despite calls from the CPI(M) and BJP for his resignation from the Assembly, former Kerala Youth Congress president and Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil has found growing support within his party in the weeks since numerous allegations of sexual misconduct led to his suspension from party membership. The Congress has decided not to press for his resignation; rather, ahead of the upcoming Assembly session, a faction within the party is actively supporting his participation, while others want him to stay away.
Ahead of the Kerala Legislative Assembly’s upcoming session on 15 September, the spotlight is not on any legislation or policy, but on one man: Palakkad Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil.
If he participates in the session, all eyes will be on him. If he stays away, questions will remain.
Back-to-back allegations of sexual misconduct last month, including one from a trans woman, forced the 35-year-old to resign as president of the Youth Congress state committee.
He was subsequently suspended from both the Congress’s primary membership and its legislative party, though without clarity on the duration of the suspension.
Despite calls from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for his resignation from the Assembly, the Congress has decided not to press him to step down.
Instead, the issue has become the centre of a tug-of-war within the party, with support for Mamkootathil growing. The absence of any formal complaint from the alleged victims has given the party added confidence.
In the immediate aftermath of the allegations kicking off the storm, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee adopted a hard line. Women leaders in particular insisted Mamkootathil vacate his Palakkad seat to uphold the party’s moral authority.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph, on 25 August, announced Mamkootathil’s suspension from the party’s primary membership. He was also barred from the Congress Legislative Party.
But the tone soon softened. Pressure to resign on “moral grounds” has now eased considerably, with Mamkootathil enjoying support from senior party leaders who view the case as a political trap engineered by the CPI(M).
Support is steadily growing within the Congress for Mamkootathil to attend the upcoming Assembly session. Joseph has dismissed calls for resignation, asserting that legislators derive their mandate from the people.
Party insiders believe Mamkootathil’s presence in the Assembly and in constituency events is crucial, though some local workers remain uneasy.
After UDF convener Adoor Prakash endorsed his participation, former KPCC president MM Hassan also came out in his favour, stressing that no rule prevents Mamkootathil from attending and that the decision ultimately rests with him.
Hassan accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI(M) of political double standards, pointing out that the ruling party had shielded its own leaders in the past while now demanding Mamkootathil’s resignation in the absence of a formal complaint.
He cited the case of LDF MLA Mukesh, who remained in office despite facing a registered rape case, as an example of selective morality.
Hassan also highlighted the Congress’s swift disciplinary action – Mamkootathil stepped down as Youth Congress president within a day of the allegation and was suspended from the party – contrasting it with the CPI(M)’s failure to implement internal complaint mechanisms for women.
Former KPCC president K Muraleedharan has also argued that Mamkootathil’s suspension is only temporary, noting that there are no formal complaints or First Information Reports (FIRs) against him.
“Currently, there is no circumstance warranting more stringent action,” Muraleedharan said, adding that the Speaker would decide Mamkootathil’s seating and participation in House proceedings as an “unattached member” if required.
The shift has exposed fault lines within the Congress. Women leaders who pushed for Mamkootathil’s resignation risk being sidelined, raising questions about how seriously the party prioritises gender ethics when weighed against political expediency.
If Mamkootathil returns to the Assembly floor, it promises to be a politically charged atmosphere.
Though suspended from the Congress, he retains his constitutional rights as an elected member of the Assembly, as the Speaker’s office has clarified that no official communication has been received regarding his debarment from the CLP, and Mamkootathil himself has not applied for leave.
The opposition benches face an unusual dynamic if his suspension is not revoked in time for the session: Mamkootathil may attend but will not feature on the Congress or UDF speakers’ list.
His presence will test both the Congress’s internal cohesion and the ruling CPI(M)’s response.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has vowed to resist Mamkootathil’s entry into the Assembly, branding him a “discredited sexual predator.”
The ruling CPI(M), meanwhile, has come down heavily on the Congress over its handling of the controversy surrounding Mamkootathil, accusing the party of violating its own century-old constitution.
CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said that according to the Congress constitution, a suspended member immediately loses the right to hold any official position, including that of MLA or MP.
However, he alleged, the KPCC has shown reluctance to act against Mamkootathil, fearing he may expose the misdeeds of other leaders if pushed further.
Govindan directly blamed Opposition leader VD Satheesan and MP Shafi Parambil, describing them as Mamkootathil’s political mentors, for ignoring repeated complaints from a woman constituent who accused the MLA of sexual harassment.
He noted that the victim had even expressed disappointment with Satheesan, once considered a trusted protector.
The CPI(M) leader said the issue has deepened factional rifts within the KPCC, with some leaders demanding Mamkootathil’s resignation while an increasing number of apologists continue to shield him – reflecting what he termed the Congress’s deeply misogynistic culture.
Congress leaders are preparing to turn the spotlight on the CPI(M), accusing the Left of double standards.
Congress leader K Muraleedharan contrasted Mamkootathil’s case with that of CPI(M) legislator Mukesh, who continues in office despite an FIR in a sexual harassment case.
“The people deserve to know the fairness in such selective targeting,” Muraleedharan said, accusing both the CPI(M) and the BJP of orchestrating a smear campaign to weaken the Congress’s youth leadership.
He also cited past instances, including the 2021 Assembly elections, when allegations against Congress leaders were later dismissed by the CBI.
Congress insiders suggest the party views the Mamkootathil row as a CPI(M) ploy to destabilise the UDF ahead of the upcoming local body elections in December.
In retaliation, the Congress has hinted at raising pending sexual misconduct allegations against Left leaders to expose what it calls “hypocrisy” in the ruling camp.
The storm over Mamkootathil has also unsettled long-standing group equations in the Congress.
Once a trusted ally of Opposition leader VD Satheesan, Shafi Parambil has shifted camps and is now seen defending Mamkootathil alongside Benny Behanan, MM Hassan, and KC Joseph. Party insiders say Satheesan, who opposed Mamkootathil and continues to do so, finds himself increasingly isolated.
The realignments have opened space for senior leaders to reassert themselves. Ramesh Chennithala, whose dominance was shaken after Satheesan’s elevation to Opposition leader, has quietly consolidated support, rallying figures like K Sudhakaran and Adoor Prakash.
At the same time, the KC Venugopal faction is gaining traction. Leaders including Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, AP Anilkumar, Chandy Oommen, Mathew Kuzhalnadan, T Siddique, Roji M John, and Saneesh Kumar Joseph have strengthened its base, positioning it as a rising power bloc.
Caught between shifting sands, K Muraleedharan continues to maintain equal distance from group leaders, refusing to take sides.
Furthermore, if it allows Mamkootathil to attend the Assembly session, the Congress risks criticism for sidelining women’s voices, yet may seek to position itself as a challenger of the CPI(M)’s moral high ground and frame the issue as a vendetta against its rising youth leaders.
Amidst the controversy, the Kerala Police Crime Branch has registered a case against Mamkootathil on serious charges, including sexual harassment, cyberstalking, coercion to terminate pregnancy, and violations of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.
The FIR, filed before the Thiruvananthapuram Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, is based on nearly ten third-party complaints from lawyers, activists, and writers.
Five of these complaints, including one forwarded by the State Child Rights Commission, have been taken up, though none of the alleged victims have filed direct complaints.
The FIR lists the victim’s age broadly as between 18 and 60 years, reflecting the lack of specific details. Petitioners have also sought scrutiny of hospitals allegedly involved in illegal abortions.
The Crime Branch has formed a special team with cyber forensic experts to examine digital evidence, including audio clips and WhatsApp chats, and is preparing to question journalists who reported on the allegations.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
