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

Chief of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) declined to reply whether or not Congress chief Rahul Mamkootathil, MLA, who faces allegations of sexual misconduct, would attend the Meeting session commencing on September 15.

Mr. Satheesan advised a press convention that the United Democratic Entrance (UDF) would take the “acceptable choice on the acceptable time”. He stated he wouldn’t take questions on a “closed chapter”.

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

Mr. Mamkootathil appeared to attract some help throughout the Congress a fortnight after his suspension from the celebration’s main 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 stated Mr. Mamkootathil was the sufferer of a Communist Get together of India (Marxist)-sponsored “political witch-hunt”.

Nonetheless, senior Congress leaders, together with Ramesh Chennithala and Ok.C. Joseph, have shunned publicly commenting on the problem.

The celebration’s newest stance additionally seems at odds with rising calls for from Congress girls leaders, notably Uma Thomas, MLA, who has known as for Mr. Mamkootathil’s resignation as Palakkad legislator.

Communist Get together of India (Marxist) State secretary M.V. Govindan endorsed Ms. Thomas’s place and decried makes an attempt to defame her and different Congress leaders who sought Mr. Mamkootathil’s resignation. He additionally cautioned towards efforts to control public opinion on the problem.

Former KPCC president Ok. Muraleedharan indicated that Mr. Mamkootathil would possibly attend the Meeting session as an “unattached” member. His title, he stated, wouldn’t seem on the Congress Legislature Get together’s muster rolls nor discover a place within the Opposition benches. He added that Mr. Mamkootathil may desk submissions or take part within the Query Hour with the Chair’s permission, whereas the Speaker would resolve his seating association.

In the meantime, the Kerala Police Crime Department has recorded the statements of at the very least three third-party complainants following the registration of a Zero First Data Report within the absence of a direct grievance from injured individuals, if any. The allegations embody claims of sexual misconduct and nameless voice clips suggesting coercion to terminate a being pregnant.

The company can be making ready to serve notices to some girls journalists who claimed to have met at the very least one sufferer and later highlighted her “bodily and psychological trauma and social stigmatisation” on social and standard media.