Rahul Mamkoottathil asked to step down from all Congress party positions

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Update:

Rahul Mankootathil steps down as Youth Congress state president

IN the wake of sexual harassment allegations against Congress MLA Rahul Mankootathil, the Congress party has asked him to resign from all party positions, including from the Kerala Youth Congress president post. 

A Congress source told TNM that even if Rahul is removed from party positions or the party itself, he can continue as an independent Member of the Legislative Assembly. Rahul is the incumbent MLA from Palakkad. It is, however, not clear if Congress will strip him of his party membership.

Sources in the party say that Abin Varghese and KM Abhijith are being considered as possible replacements for Rahul.

Allegations of sexual harassment 

The allegations against Rahul flared up after actor and former journalist Rini Ann George alleged that a young political leader from Kerala sent her offensive messages and invited her to a hotel room. Rini says the incident happened nearly three and a half years ago. 

Although Rini refused to name the politician, protests broke out in Palakkad with the BJP alleging that the accusation was against Rahul Mamkootathil. 

Later, writer Honey Bhaskaran alleged that Rahul had once sent her obscene messages, which she ignored. She said she later learnt that he had told his Congress colleagues she was interested in him.

A day later, a Malayalam television channel published a voice recording allegedly between Rahul and an anonymous woman. In it, the person alleged to be Rahul is heard speaking to the woman about her pregnancy and the paternity of the child, which he says would cause him trouble. 

Further, sexually coloured online chats, purportedly sent by Rahul to a woman member of his party, too have surfaced.  

Youth Congress demands explanation 

There is growing demand within the Youth Congress for Rahul to clarify his stance on the allegations. Discussions are reported underway in the state committee’s WhatsApp group, and a woman leader is said to have demanded that Rahul break his silence. 

Many other leaders have also insisted that if the allegations are false, Rahul should explain. 

Strong criticism against Rahul was raised by Youth Congress state general secretary RV Sneha. General secretary VP Dulquifel came forward supporting Sneha’s criticism, and the faction led by Chandy Oommen has also joined in on the opposition against Rahul. 

Youth Congress state vice president Vishnu Sunil Panthalam demanded Rahul’s resignation.

However, so far, Rahul Mankootathil has not responded. The discussion, which began yesterday in the Youth Congress WhatsApp group, is still continuing.

Responding to the media, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan said, “I did not know anything. I have not got any complaints until now. No one has told me anything. Our party will consider the serious allegations and will take action. No complaints have yet come to me personally or to the party.”

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Rini Ann George, a former journalist and Malayalam actor, has alleged that a young political leader from Kerala sent her offensive messages and invited her to a hotel room. Rini says the incident happened nearly three and a half years ago. 

Speaking to the media in Kochi on August 20, Rini, who did not name the politician, however, said that his dismissive attitude could be summed up through his words, “Who cares”. 

Rini alleged that she had warned the man she would complain to his party leadership, but he was nonchalant about it. She also claimed that several other women have had similar experiences.

“He sent me obscene messages. I ignored them and moved on; it was not a big issue for me. That is why I did not file a police case. But when I recently saw that this person was facing other allegations, I realised that other women are facing the same issue. Still, not one woman has spoken openly about it. I felt I should speak up,” she said.

Rini also went on to confirm on one of the television channels that the young politician has now become an MLA.

She told reporters that when an allegation was raised on social media against this leader, no mainstream media took it up. “There is a huge protective cover around him. When I once told him that I would complain against him, he replied, ‘Just go and complain,’” she added.

“I alerted the senior party leaders, I personally advised him and scolded him for his behaviour. I did the best I could. I complained on many forums. But nothing happened; no action was taken against him. Even after all this, I learned that women are still enduring this. So, as a woman, I am not able to grasp it,” she added.

Rini further alleged that the leader carefully maintained a deceptive public image. When asked by the media whether the person in question was Palakkad Congress MLA Rahul Mamkottathil, she declined to give a direct answer. 

Although Rini has steadfastly refused to name the politician, protests broke out in Palakkad with the BJP alleging that the accusation was against Rahul Mamkootathil.

Recently, when journalists asked Rahul about allegations of sexual assault by another woman, he dismissed them and said, “Who cares?” This clip has now gone viral on social media, leading to the widespread speculation that Rini was referring to Rahul. 

After Rini, author Honey Bhaskaran came forward alleging that Rahul had once sent her obscene messages, which she ignored. She said she later learnt that he had told his Congress colleagues she was interested in him.