Defending Mamkootathil embarrasses Congress, says Youth Cong. leader

The Congress has found itself in a political quagmire after details of alleged sexual harassment allegations involving Congress legislator Rahul Mamkootathil re-emerged.

While senior party leaders, including All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary KC Venugopal and Opposition Leader VD Satheesan, are trying to insulate the party, which is in an all-out fight to secure victory in the local body elections, from the political embarrassment caused by the recent revelations, many in the organization are worried about possible developments on the poll prospects of the party and the United Democratic Front (UDF).

Some senior leaders were disturbed that the resurgence of the allegations on the day the party’s poll manifesto was published changed the focus of the party’s poll campaign. This also put the party on the defensive.

Meanwhile, Sajna B. Sajan, one of the leaders of the Youth Congress, attacked Mr. Mamkooathil and demanded that he resign from the organisation. In her social media post, Ms. Sajan demanded that such psychopaths be expelled from the organization forever. He said this is not the time for congressional staffers to be dealing with lawmakers’ sexual harassment allegations.

Ms Sajan then said party workers campaigning for party candidates in local elections should be relieved of the humiliating situation of having to respond to allegations made against Mr Mamkoottathil. He said he should refrain from attending party events and public meetings and save the organization from further political damage.

The party may need his support as a legislator from Palakkad district. However, his participation in public events and meetings will harm the organization. “It is a fact that the party has distanced itself from the organization. He will be expelled from primary membership in the interest of the organization,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Mr Satheesan wondered whether the party could file a case against the MLA twice as the party had suspended him after the allegations came to light.

The defiant Mr Mamkoottathil had previously stated that he had not violated any laws in the country and said he would cooperate with any investigation.