NEW DELHI: The Congress has suspended Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil from the party’s primary membership following accusations of obscene conduct filed by writer Honey Bhaskaran and model Rini Ann George.
However, he will continue to serve as a legislator, reports ANI.
The suspension came amid rising protests and growing calls for action and demands for his resignation.
Mamkootathil had already resigned from his position as the state president of the Youth Congress.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Communist Party of India (CPI) have been protesting and demanding the resignation of Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil over the allegations of ‘obscene conduct.’ On Sunday, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), carried out a protest march in Kerala’s Palakkad, demanding the resignation of Rahul Mamkootathil from his MLA post.
Earlier on Thursday, Kerala LoP and Congress leader VD Satheesan had addressed allegations against the Palakkad MLA and assured a thorough investigation by the Congress party, emphasising that no leniency will be shown if the allegations are found to be serious.
“The Party will look into the allegations. We will check the gravity of the allegations. If it is very serious, we will take necessary action. There is a procedure; he will get an opportunity to present his side. Then only will we make a decision. We will make a decision immediately; there won’t be any delay. There are no complaints before the party. If someone is making any allegation, we will look into it. We will take it very seriously, we will take proper action, there will be no mercy,” he said.
The Kerala Congress leader ran into controversy involving Malayalam actor Rini George, who accused an unnamed youth leader of inappropriate conduct.
While George did not name Mamkootathil, the BJP has directly linked him to the charges.
He also got into trouble after a trans-woman activist, Avanthika, accused him of sending her “sexually regressive” messages and sharing disturbing sexual fantasies.