Kannur (Kerala) [India], August 25 (ANI): Kerala Congress President Sunny Joseph on Monday confirmed that Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil is no longer entitled to continue as a member of the Congress Legislator Party following allegations of ‘obscene conduct.’ As a result, Mamkootathil can no longer participate in legislative decisions as a representative of the Congress party.
This development comes after the Congress party suspended MLA Rahul Mamkootathil from its primary membership following accusations of obscene conduct filed by writer Honey Bhaskaran and model Rini Ann George.
Speaking to ANI, Sunny Joseph stated that the party had taken a unanimous decision to suspend Rahul Mamkootathil after detailed deliberations. “Though there is no case registered, we’ve taken the matter seriously. After deliberations and discussion, we have taken a unanimous decision to suspend Rahul Mamkootathil from party membership. As a result, he is no longer entitled to continue as a member of the Congress Legislator Party,” Joseph said.
While suspended from the Congress party, Mamkootathil has not resigned from his MLA post. His suspension comes amid rising protests, calls for action, and demands for his resignation. He had earlier stepped down as the State President of the Youth Congress.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Communist Party of India (CPI) have been demanding his resignation, citing serious allegations of misconduct. On Sunday, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the CPI(M), staged a protest march in Palakkad demanding Mamkootathil’s resignation from the MLA post.
BJP Council Party leader from Kozhikode Corporation, Navya Haridas, alleged on Friday that multiple women and even transgender individuals have lodged sexual harassment complaints against the Palakkad MLA.
“There are many allegations against the current Palakkad MLA, Rahul Mamkootathil. It’s not a complaint from one woman; there are many women complaining against him based on sexual harassment,” Haridas told ANI. “More shocking events are coming when that list includes transgender individuals as well. So, these are not baseless allegations against Rahul; all these allegations are coming with proof, with a chat history, with voice messages and everything,” she added.
The BJP leader further said that Mahila Morcha is planning statewide protests against the issue in Palakkad district and across Kerala. (ANI)
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