After his arrest in a third rape complaint, the CPM-led LDF and BJP have demanded that Congress should ask MLA Rahul Mamkootathil to resign from membership of the lesistaltive assemly.
Responding to the demand, the Congress said it cannot ask a person, who has been expelled from the party, to resign. Even after saying that he has been expelled, the continuous filing of very serious complaints against the MLA, who won with the palm symbol, is putting the Congress on the defensive.
Mamkootathil, a young leader, has been the face and mouth of the Congress in Kerala. Now, he has reached the point of being what the police call a habitual offender. Rahul is facing three similar and serious cases against him — of rape, coerced medical termination of pregnancy, financial extortion, cheating, confidence trickery, illegal detention, and obtaining sexual consent by deceitfully promising marriage. Even as the Congress leaders try to explain that the party used Brahmastra and expelled him, the complaints against the young MLA are becoming a burden for the grand old party.
Opposition leader V D Satheesan said the MLa was suspended from the party as soon as the allegations were raised. He was expelled from the Congress when the complaint was received. Which party in India has taken such a step, he asked.
Even as he was expelled, the Congress did not ask him to resign as an MLA in a commanding tone. It only said that it was appropriate for him to resign as an MLA. The argument was that the party could not order him to resign. The Congress has justified it by saying that those facing similar allegations in the LDF did not resign.
The Opposition is alleging that those protecting Rahul Mamkootathil are still in the Congress. Even when he was suspended from the party and the parliamentary party, they argued about whether he could come to the assembly. When he came, they defended him. Although the complaint he received against Rahul from a woman was immediately handed over to the police, the KPCC president doubted the preparation of the complaint. When Rahul is arrested, those who defended him will have to remain silent in the party. It must be assumed that the accused in three rape cases will not make a comeback to the Congress.