Rahul Mamkootathil can forget about 'Palakkad'; MLA gets emotional before leaders

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rahul Mamkootathil, who has been facing sexual harassment allegations by several women, will continue as the Palakkad MLA. Rahul's MLA post was preserved due to the realization that a by-election would be in the Left's favour in the current situation, with less than nine months left for the end of the term of the House.

The decision to suspend Rahul from the party for six months was made after much discussion. If Rahul Mamkootathil resigns, it will be possible to hold the by-elections in Peerumedu and Palakkad constituencies along with the local body elections. In the current situation, the BJP and the CPM will support the by-elections. The adverse situation with the Rahul issue in Palakkad constituency will create a stir in the entire state.

The leaders are backing down from demanding Rahul's resignation because they believe that if that happens, it will weaken the UDF in the local body elections and the upcoming assembly elections. Although the party may feel that this step can save face to some extent, Congress leaders realize that this is not the case. In fact, the realization that it is better for the CPM that Rahul does not resign is behind the Left party moving forward without intensifying its public agitation on the issue.

Rahul Mamkootathil had asked the leadership to listen to what he had to say, but many leaders who demanded Rahul's resignation the other day were not even ready to talk to him. The fact that the political situation favourable to the Congress has disappeared with the Rahul issue has caused great anger among the leaders.

Rahul reacted emotionally in this situation. Rahul told some of the leaders that whenever the party was on the defensive, he had come forward and faced it, and now the party was isolating him. Ramesh Chennithala was persuaded by the fact that if the by-elections came, the state leaders would have to concentrate entirely on Palakkad. Chennithala was the leader who most strongly demanded that Rahul resign.

'Rahul will not set foot in Palakkad'

Palakkad was one of the Congress's sure seats in the 2026 assembly elections. Rahul himself, who had won a landslide victory in the by-election held last November, would have been the candidate here again. However, in the new situation, Rahul will no longer be given a seat in the Palakkad constituency. Not just Palakkad, but Congress will not give Rahul a seat in any constituency in Kerala. Rahul Mamkootathil can dream about electoral politics only if the allegations are proven wrong. The party is now in a position to find another candidate to replace Rahul.