'Will set bad precedent'; Congress against ethics committee's move to disqualify Rahul Mamkootathil MLA

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leadership is apprehensive of the move to disqualify Palakkad MLA Rahul Mammkootathil, who is caught in a slew of serious sexual assault cases. Congress said the move initiated by the ethics committee to disqualify an elected MLA would set a bad precedent. The constituent parties in the UDF parliamentary party also expressed a similar opinion. However, the decision to oust Rahul from Congress will not be revoked.

Meanwhile, the Legislative Assembly Privilege and Ethics Committee decided to hold a hearing based on the request of DK Murali, who filed a complaint seeking the disqualification of Rahul Mamkootathil. The Ethics Committee directed Murali to appear before the committee on the 23rd. Opposition members of the Ethics Committee yesterday raised the issue of a technical error in Murali's complaint.

DK Murali demanded the opportunity to raise Rahul's cases and the issue as a point of order. The opposition members questioned why the Ethics Committee was considering such a demand. The committee will also take the opinion of MLA Rahul in this matter. As the technical procedures are ongoing, no final action will be taken during this session.