Misconduct row: Rahul Mamkootathil resigns as Youth Congress state president

Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil on Thursday resigned from the post of Youth Congress state president following allegations of misconduct.
"Nobody has asked for my resignation. I have not committed any act that violates the law or the Constitution. There are no formal complaints against me either. However, I am stepping down from the post of Youth Congress president. I will prove my innocence," Mamkootathil told reporters at his home in Adoor. 

"I have resigned not because I have done anything wrong. It's not the Congress workers' job to defend me, and I don't want them to do that. I have the responsibility to prove my innocence, and it's not them," Rahul said. He added that every Congress worker, including him, should work to reveal the wrongdoings of the LDF government.

Earlier in the day, Malayalam actor Rini Ann George accused an unnamed political leader of sending her offensive messages on several occasions. She alleged that he once invited her to a hotel and, when she threatened to complain to his party, he challenged her to do so. “He once told me, ‘Let’s book a room in a five-star hotel, you should come.’ I reacted strongly. Afterwards, there was no trouble for a while, but he repeated the demand. Many women have faced similar experiences,” Rini said, adding that despite repeated complaints, the leader continued to be given opportunities.

When asked about the actor’s allegations, Rahul said she had not mentioned anyone by name. “She hasn’t said my name or anyone else’s. She is a good friend of mine. I don’t believe she was referring to me,” he said.

Soon after, writer Honey Bhaskaran publicly named Mamkootathil in a Facebook post, alleging that he had repeatedly sent her unsolicited messages on social media. She said the initial exchanges were about travel, but when he persisted, she chose to cut off contact. Honey further alleged that Rahul later misrepresented her conversations to others in a derogatory manner. “People need to know the psycho in you who goes around messaging women and then portrays them badly among perverts. That’s what this post is for,” she wrote. She also claimed that several women within the Youth Congress had raised similar complaints, but no action was taken until now.

However, Rahul challenged her to prove her allegations. "She will have to prove that I have done anything illegal. The evidence she has presented is incomplete. The screenshot of a chat shows an image of Sri Lanka and a white heart— why has she not revealed what comes below that? And if a conversation between two people is considered wrong, then what she did would also be wrong," Rahul said.

Rahul also challenged Honey to substantiate her claims about him allegedly speaking in a derogatory manner. "She has to prove that. Does she have a complaint? Also, she should present evidence if I have misbehaved with any other woman. Why is she not doing that, and instead raising unverified allegations? Anyone can make such claims," Rahul said.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan said that the Congress party will take strict action against any leader facing serious allegations. "If any serious allegations surface against any leader or member of the Congress, the party will take strict action without favour," Satheesan told reporters.

When asked about Satheesan’s comments, Rahul said he was unaware of any complaints against him. "I don’t know if anyone has complained about me. Satheesan has not told me anything," Rahul added.