E.N. Suresh Babu, the Palakkad district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), recently made remarks regarding Congress legislator Rahul Mamkootathil, sparking a political dispute. Babu suggested that a Congress leader, whom he referred to as Mamkootathil’s “headmaster,” was hesitant to distance the party from the MLA despite accusations of “serial sexual misconduct.” He alleged that during the Palakkad Assembly bypoll, Mr. Mamkootathil had “solicited personable women to accompany him to Bengaluru.” Babu indicated that journalists were free to draw their own conclusions and later welcomed the Congress’s challenge to his statements, implying the party’s actions contradicted its stated commitment to holding accountable what he termed a “wayward legislator.”
In response, Congress leaders expressed strong disapproval of Babu’s insinuations. Party workers protested in Palakkad town, alleging “slanderous targeting” of Shafi Parambil, MP, by Babu. Palakkad District Congress Committee President A. Mamkootathil addressed the issue, defending Congress leader Benny Behanan’s welcoming of Mr. Mamkootathil at a private event. A. Mamkootathil clarified that Rahul Mamkootathil “remains a party colleague, though struck off the organisational rolls temporarily based on a collective leadership decision.”
Babu further asserted that Mr. Mamkootathil was a “festering political liability” for the Congress. Reports also noted that Kerala Students Union and Youth Congress workers were seen accompanying Mr. Mamkootathil.
Source: www.thehindu.com