Satheesan non-committal on Rahul Mamkootathil’s attendance in Assembly

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) declined to answer whether Congress leader Rahul Mamkootathil, MLA, who faces allegations of sexual misconduct, would attend the Assembly session commencing on September 15.

Mr. Satheesan told a press conference that the United Democratic Front (UDF) would take the “appropriate decision at the appropriate time”. He said he would not take questions about a “closed chapter”.

His remarks come amid threats by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to deter Mr. Mamkootathil from attending the Assembly or setting foot in his Palakkad constituency.

Mr. Mamkootathil appeared to draw some support within the Congress a fortnight after his suspension from the party’s primary membership and resignation as State Youth Congress president.

Congress Working Committee member Kodikunnil Suresh, UDF convenor Adoor Prakash, and former UDF convenor M.M. Hassan said Mr. Mamkootathil was the victim of a Communist Party of India (Marxist)-sponsored “political witch-hunt”.

However, senior Congress leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala and K.C. Joseph, have refrained from publicly commenting on the issue.

The party’s latest stance also appears at odds with growing demands from Congress women leaders, notably Uma Thomas, MLA, who has called for Mr. Mamkootathil’s resignation as Palakkad legislator.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary M.V. Govindan endorsed Ms. Thomas’s position and decried attempts to defame her and other Congress leaders who sought Mr. Mamkootathil’s resignation. He also cautioned against efforts to manipulate public opinion on the issue.

Former KPCC president K. Muraleedharan indicated that Mr. Mamkootathil might attend the Assembly session as an “unattached” member. His name, he said, would not appear on the Congress Legislature Party’s muster rolls nor find a place in the Opposition benches. He added that Mr. Mamkootathil could table submissions or participate in the Question Hour with the Chair’s permission, while the Speaker would decide his seating arrangement.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Police Crime Branch has recorded the statements of at least three third-party complainants following the registration of a Zero First Information Report in the absence of a direct complaint from injured persons, if any. The allegations include claims of sexual misconduct and anonymous voice clips suggesting coercion to terminate a pregnancy.

The agency is also preparing to serve notices to a few women journalists who claimed to have met at least one victim and later highlighted her “physical and mental trauma and social stigmatisation” on social and conventional media.