Thiruvananthapuram: Suspended Congress legislator Rahul Mamkoothathil on Monday made a quiet entry into the Kerala Assembly, ending speculation over whether he would attend the penultimate session of the current House.
Mamkoothathil, a first-time MLA from Palakkad, was suspended from the party last month following controversies, including allegations of sexual harassment. His presence had been a matter of debate within Congress circles, with one faction backing his participation and another, led by Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, opposing it.
On Monday morning, the legislator arrived at the Assembly around 9.15 a.m. in a friend’s car and walked past a large media presence. Speaker A.N. Shamseer had allotted him a separate seat in keeping with his suspended status.
As it was the opening day of the session, proceedings were confined to obituary references. Mamkoothathil entered during the tributes and quietly took his place in the back row of the Opposition benches without drawing any response from fellow legislators.
This was his first public appearance since his suspension, during which he had remained largely confined to his home in Pathanamthitta.
The ongoing session, scheduled from September 15 to October 9 with 12 working days, is expected to see the Opposition target the Pinarayi Vijayan government on several issues. However, Mamkoothathil’s return has complicated matters for the Congress, raising fresh questions about unity within the party.