Rahul Mamkootathil suspended from Congress over allegations

Thiruvananthapuram: Rahul Mamkootathil has been suspended from the Congress primary membership following allegations of sexual harassment. The party’s decision to limit action to suspension, rather than demanding his resignation as MLA, came after Rahul openly defied the leadership by refusing to step down.

Rahul had warned that if expelled, he would expose the secrets of several party members. He threatened that if forced to resign, many others would have no choice but to quit politics. This threat pushed the Congress leadership, who just yesterday had been calling for his resignation, into retreat, reducing the action to mere suspension. The compromise followed pressure from KPCC working president Shafi Parambil, who suggested that instead of resignation, it would be enough to remove Rahul from the parliamentary party.

The leadership feared that if Rahul resigned, Eldhose Kunnappilly and Vincent would also be compelled to do the same, forcing the party into deeper crisis. This reversal has placed senior leaders and women leaders, who had earlier insisted that resignation was the only option, in a difficult position. They now appear helpless before one individual’s defiance.

On Sunday morning, reports suggested that Rahul would resign in line with KPCC’s demand. However, after releasing to the media an audio clip of his phone conversation with transwoman Avantika at his residence in Adoor Mundappally, Rahul left without taking questions. Though he later returned to Thiruvananthapuram, he gave the leadership a clear signal by abruptly turning back midway.

Meanwhile, leaders including V D Satheesan and Shafi Parambil continue to defend Rahul, while only Ramesh Chennithala has openly opposed him. Shanimol Usman, Bindu Krishna, Uma Thomas, and Joseph Vazhakkan criticised Rahul, but Congress workers have been attacking Uma Thomas and others in derogatory terms on social media. Shanimol remarked that Rahul should withdraw from politics altogether, while Chennithala repeated his demand for Rahul’s immediate resignation. Opposition Leader V D Satheesan and KPCC president Sunny Joseph, however, have so far avoided commenting publicly.