Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday traded sharp accusations over the row surrounding MLA and former state Youth Congress president Rahul Mamkootathil, who faces allegations of threatening a pregnant woman.
Vijayan termed the charges against Mamkootathil “extremely serious,” calling them a grave criminal matter. He said that politics demanded dignity and morality, accusing the Congress of losing those values. He also asserted that legal action would follow and that no system should protect individuals who bring disrepute to public life.
Responding, Satheesan accused the Chief Minister of hypocrisy, pointing out that Mamkootathil had been forced to resign from the Youth Congress and was suspended from the party despite there being no complaint or FIR. He contrasted this with the Chief Minister retaining two cabinet members facing sexual allegations.
Satheesan further alleged that Vijayan had consistently shielded tainted leaders. “Former ministers have faced allegations, audios have circulated for years, yet no defamation cases or party action followed. No political leader in India has protected the accused as much as Vijayan has,” he said.
He also questioned the silence over alleged hawala links involving the CPI-M state secretary’s son, asking what action the Chief Minister had taken.
The Congress leadership had earlier suspended Mamkootathil and removed him as state Youth Congress president pending an internal inquiry. Mamkootathil, however, insists the charges are politically motivated and part of a conspiracy against him.
The episode has intensified Kerala’s political rivalry, with both the ruling Left and the Congress-led Opposition seeking to turn the controversy to their advantage.