On 15 September, when the Assembly session begins, Mamkootathil is likely to sit as a separate block. However, there is a strong likelihood that he may go on leave instead of attending the session.
Published Aug 26, 2025 | 9:03 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 26, 2025 | 9:03 AM
The crime branch probe into sexual harassment allegations against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil risks stalling as no victims have filed formal complaints.
Synopsis: Though allegations of sexual misconduct against its young and dashing MLA, Rahul Mamkootathil, have forced the Congress on the back foot, the party is unlikely to seek his resignation from the Assembly. The party has reasons: One, no complaint has been made so far against Mamkootathil; two, MLAs who were arrested on sexual charges earlier, still continue in the Assembly; three, his resignation from the post of Youth Congress’s state president, and suspension from the Congress’s primary membership will possibly give the party some breathing space.
The rise of Rahul Mamkootathil in the Congress and Kerala’s political landscape was as spectacular as his fall.
Back-to-back allegations of sexual misconduct, including from a trans woman, forced the 35-year-old MLA to resign as the president of the Youth Congress state committee. However, indications are that he will continue to represent Palakkad in the state Assembly.
Young, fearless, and a polemicist who could challenge — and often silence the ruling LDF in TV debates — Mamkootathil was one among the younger crop of politicians the Congress wanted to mould into future leaders. He was even given a chance to contest the Assembly bypoll from Palakkad, much to the chagrin of others, who eyed the seat after the then-sitting MLA, Shafi Parambil, was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2024.
Mamkootathil overcame the internal strife, even as the LDF fielded a disgruntled P Sarin as an independent. Sarin had been hopeful that the Congress would nominate him as Parambil’s successor, considering his contributions to the party in Palakkad.
However, Mamkootathil had the last laugh as he defeated BJP’s C Krishnakumar by over 18,000 votes, even as Sarin, despite the CPI(M) throwing its weight behind him, ended third. CPI(M) and the LDF had hoped to cash in on the discontent within the UDF ranks over the candidature of Mamkootathil.
Today, Mamkootathil stands isolated — or at least it seems — cut off from the adoration he once commanded. From a celebrated, fearless young leader to one facing serious allegations, Mamkootathil’s story is a cautionary tale.
His rapid rise and immense popularity made him a role model for many aspiring politicians, but the controversy has left his political future uncertain and serves as a stark reminder that public trust can vanish as quickly as fame is earned.
The Congress on Monday, 25 August, suspended Mamkootathil from the party’s primary membership for six months. KPCC’s Disciplinary Panel Chairman Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said the decision followed a meeting on Sunday to determine the party’s response.
”Appropriate action will be taken against him. This is the first step,” he said.
Despite no formal police complaints being filed, the party chose suspension to uphold the complainants’ dignity, safety, and self-respect. The suspension came ahead of the local body polls and the 2026 Assembly elections.
Interestingly, the Congress is unlikely to seek Mamkootathil’s resignation from the Assembly.
While a section of Congress leaders initially argued there was no case against Mamkootathil, the repeated surfacing of audio clips forced decisive action. ”If Rahul made mistakes, they must be proven. Only then should he resign. As of now, he will not step down,” UDF Convener Adoor Prakash said.
Congress leader K Muraleedharan described the suspension as a necessary democratic procedure.
”The issue is widely discussed in society. We decided to suspend him while considering the seriousness of the allegations. Further action may follow,” he said. Muraleedharan also indicated a potential ”third phase” depending on complaints and responses.
KPCC Chief Sunny Joseph emphasised that Mamkootathil’s resignation as Youth Congress president was an example, and no formal complaint or police case existed.
”Demands for his resignation as MLA are baseless. Nevertheless, the party suspended him to protect the complainant’s dignity,” he said. Joseph added that several leaders continued in office despite facing serious charges, highlighting the political and procedural complexity behind such decisions.
The CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan said the public opinion was against Mamkootathil continuing as an MLA. However, the party had not launched a strong, coordinated protest, demanding his resignation. One of its MLAs, actor-politician M Mukesh, was arrested and granted bail twice for rape after a redacted version of the Hema Committee report was made public.
In Mamkootathil’s case, no complaint has been made but for the release of audio clips and chat records. At a news conference, the MLA, too, released an audio clip in a bid to prove his innocence.
Congress insiders confirmed to South First that Mamkootathil met the media only after receiving assurances from senior leaders that he would not be asked to resign from the Assembly. Leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala, had strongly demanded his resignation.
However, following mediation by leaders like Parambil, the high command was convinced that forcing a resignation could trigger a by-election in Palakkad—an outcome the Congress feared might benefit the BJP.
Incidentally, Palakkad is the only municipality in Kerala where the BJP is in power. A BJP victory in a Palakkad by-election would give the CPI(M) ammunition against the Congress and cause deeper damage to the party’s image.
The district has 12 Assembly constituencies; except for Palakkad (held by the UDF), Mannarkkad (IUML), Pattambi (CPI), and Chittur (JD[S]), the CPI(M) wields significant influence across the region.
Party insiders also indicated that Mamkootathil may not be given a ticket in the next Assembly election.
South First reached out to JS Adoor, a public policy expert who served for over 30 years at the United Nations and later headed the public policy cell of the KPCC.
”The decision to suspend Rahul is a collective one, taken after consulting all stakeholders, including him. Since 1970, no party in Kerala has given up an MLA seat over allegations,” he said.
Adoor stressed that this episode would not hurt the Congress nationally, noting that even leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia, once a close associate of Rahul Gandhi, had left without leaving any lasting damage.
”The Congress is not a Stalinist party. Mere social media chatter or television debates do not reflect ground reality,” he added.
The Congress has decided that Mamkootathil will not be asked to resign despite grave allegations against him. Party leaders pointed out that similar accusations were faced by Kovalam MLA M Vincent and Perumbavoor MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly, but neither was asked to vacate their Assembly seat.
Vincent was arrested in July 2015 for allegedly raping a 51-year-old woman. Kunnappilly, the MLA from Perumbavoor, was arrested and released on bail in a sexual assault case in October 2022. Both represent the Congress. They spent time away from party programmes yet continued as legislators.
The Congress also plans to counter CPM criticism by citing past cases against their leaders, including MLA Mukesh, who was arrested in a sexual harassment case, and Minister AK Saseendran, who briefly stepped aside but never resigned as MLA.
For Mamkootathil, the absence of formal complaints is the main shield.
Allegations of forcing a woman to undergo medical termination of pregnancy and suggesting rape to a trans woman remain without official police cases. Women who came forward said their aim was not legal action but exposing him socially.
Even within Congress, complaints, including from a former MP’s daughter, have reached the high command.
A message from Delhi is clear now: Mamkootathil can remain as MLA for now, but cannot expect to contest again. KPCC will probe the complaints, but party insiders admit even a clean chit will not secure him another ticket.
Political analyst Joseph C Mathew told South First, ”Mukesh is the crucial card for Congress in countering the CPI(M). They cannot demand more when their own leaders face similar charges. But beyond politics, Rahul lacks sincerity in his personal conduct. His ‘who cares’ remark before the media exposed his arrogance and insincerity towards the people who elected him, and that has done him the most damage.”
INTUC is the only organisation owing allegiance to the Congress that took a stance against Mamkoottathil and continues to demand his resignation.
AA Mohamed Hashim, State General Secretary of INTUC, told South First that internal grievance cells should be made mandatory for all political organisations.
Hashim said the party should face by-elections and trust the people. He also noted that complaints raised by women within political organisations often do not receive serious attention, and responsible authorities sometimes try to suppress or pressure women into withdrawing their grievances.
To address this, the Young Workers Council urged political parties to establish internal grievance cells, including legal experts or women leaders from outside the organization.
The organisation decided to form a grievance cell within the Young Workers Council, with state office bearers Sharanya Sreekumar, Sreeja Raghunathan, and Adv. Sini Vipin, and Adv. Anoop Mohan as members. Ex officio members will include INTUC State General Secretaries VJ Joseph and Sathi Kumari J, along with two experts from legal and social fields.
On 15 September, when the Assembly session begins, Mamkootathil is likely to sit as a separate block. However, there is a strong likelihood that he may go on leave instead of attending the session.
The KPCC will seek an explanation from Mamkootathil. If his explanation does not satisfy the leadership, steps are being considered to expel him from the party.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court lawyer Adv. Babila Ummerkhan told South First that a byelection is not automatically mandated in the present situation. Citing the Representation of the People Act, 1951, she explained that while vacancies are generally required to be filled within six months, Section 151A of the Act lays down two exceptions.
One of these is when the Election Commission is convinced that conducting a byelection is not feasible during the remaining period of the Assembly’s term. She added that it is difficult to predict how the situation will unfold. However, the BJP in Kerala seems to be trying to avoid another bypoll to the Assembly in Palakkad.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
