Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee non-committal on Rahul Mamkootathil’s resignation as MLA

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph, MLA, has said the party was yet to take a call on whether it would seek the resignation of Rahul Mamkootathil as its legislator from the Palakkad Assembly constituency. 

At a press conference in Kannur on Monday, Mr. Joseph said neither the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] nor the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had the moral authority to demand Mr. Mamkootathil’s resignation. 

“In Kerala, there is no precedent of a legislator relinquishing his office, even if the police charge-sheeted them in criminal cases, including sexual offences. I am not taking names, but some MLAs face such charges. In contrast, there is no complaint to the party or the police or an incriminating first information statement against Mr. Mamkootathil so far, hence negating the need for his immediate resignation”, he said.

Panel to probe allegations

Nevertheless, Mr. Joseph said, the Congress had reiterated its commitment to the “self-respect, human rights and security” of women by temporarily barring Mr. Mamkootathil from the party’s primary membership. A party panel would investigate the allegations against Mr. Mamkootathil, he added.

Mr. Joseph lauded Mr. Mamkootathil for resigning from the post of State Youth Congress president at the very outset of the controversy, “setting an example for those in public life and upholding Congress values”. 

Mr. Joseph clarified that Mr. Mamkootathil’s disqualification from the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) precluded the MLA from attending parliamentary party meetings or representing the United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition in the Assembly.