Sexual misconduct charges against Mamkootathil cast shadow over Cong. during poll campaign

Youth Congress State general secretary Sajna B. Sajan in a social media post said she had written to the All India Congress Committee (AICC), including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, seeking an inquiry commission comprising national-level women leaders of public standing to meet the alleged survivors, record their statements, and enable the party to take a stance on the allegations against Congress legislator Rahul Mamkootathil.

Ms. Sajan said she was the victim of a seemingly well-coordinated cyberattack, which included a flood of invective, threats, and misogynist slurs. She said the complaint to the AICC was an act of defiance against such vituperative attacks.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist)  State secretary M.V. Govindan demanded Mr. Mamkootathil’s immediate resignation. He said the accused’s continuation as Palakkad MLA was legally and morally untenable. 

The Congress moved to counter the demand. AICC general secretary in-charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmusi appeared to find fault with the alleged survivor for approaching the Chief Minister’s political office instead of the police. “The Congress champions the rule of law,” she said. 

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph, MLA, said the case was at a nascent stage. “An accusation is not a declaration of guilt by a court of law,” he added. 

United Democratic Front  convener Adoor Prakash said the timing of the complaint seemed suspicious and profoundly political. “Several Congress leaders, including me, have borne the burden of false charges, only for the court to find them unsubstantiated,” he said.

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan declined to comment. 

Former  Bharatiya Janata Party State president K. Surendran asked the Congress to force Mr. Mamkootathil to resign as legislator. He also demanded the immediate arrest of Mr. Mamkootathil.