The Congress party in Kerala is witnessing an unusual and intensifying internal conflict over how to deal with Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who was suspended in August following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women. As local body elections draw near, the controversy surrounding the first-time legislator has resurfaced, triggering disagreements among senior leaders and exposing sharp divisions within the party’s state unit.

Rahul Mamkootathil, despite being officially suspended, has been actively and informally participating in campaign activities in his constituency. This has not only unsettled some of the party’s senior leadership but has also revived questions regarding how strictly the suspension order should be interpreted and enforced. His involvement in grassroots-level campaigning appears to have emboldened his supporters while simultaneously irritating leaders who believe that the party must maintain accountability, especially in cases involving allegations of misconduct.

The dispute escalated when former KPCC president and current Kannur MP K Sudhakaran publicly contradicted the party’s official stance on the suspension. Sudhakaran asserted that he was not notified about the decision to suspend Rahul and that he did not even participate in the leadership meeting where the disciplinary action was reportedly finalized. His statement was in direct conflict with the position maintained by the Leader of the Opposition, VD Satheesan, who has claimed repeatedly that the decision to suspend the Palakkad MLA was unanimous and collective, taken after due consultation among senior members.

Sudhakaran’s remarks caused ripples within the party because they suggested an internal procedural lapse or, worse, a lack of transparency within the leadership. By implying that the decision-making process bypassed certain leaders, he indirectly opened up questions about internal communication and factional alignment within the Congress. Moreover, Sudhakaran went a step further by expressing willingness to share the stage with Rahul Mamkootathil if such a situation were to arise, signaling a more forgiving or lenient stance toward the suspended legislator.

According to Sudhakaran, Rahul must indeed introspect and modify aspects of his behaviour, but he also argued that political careers should not be destroyed without due process or empathy. He suggested that some leaders were exaggerating or exploiting the issue, indicating that he viewed the handling of the suspension as disproportionate or politically motivated. His statements added a new layer to the controversy by framing the issue not purely as a matter of disciplinary action but also one of intra-party rivalry and conflicting visions of justice.

However, Sudhakaran’s comments were met with firm resistance from other senior Congress leaders. Former MP K Muraleedharan criticized Rahul’s continued involvement in campaign activities and insisted that a suspended member has no right to attend party meetings, appear publicly with party leaders, or occupy any position of political visibility within the organisation. Muraleedharan maintained that while Rahul could campaign privately for workers who had supported him during his election, his suspension barred him from engaging in any official or semi-official party platform.

Muraleedharan also adopted a harsher tone regarding the allegations against the MLA, asserting that those who commit wrongdoing must face consequences rather than being shielded or reinstated prematurely. His stance suggested that re-entry into party activities must be contingent upon a clear resolution of the allegations and, if necessary, disciplinary or legal repercussions. This viewpoint resonates with the faction of the party that prioritises organisational discipline, ethical accountability, and sensitivity to issues involving women’s dignity, especially at a time when political parties across India are under scrutiny for their handling of such accusations.

Rahul Mamkootathil, for his part, has attempted to justify his ongoing campaign work. He has said that he has not attended any official party meetings since his suspension and that his participation in the campaign is limited to supporting workers who, in his words, “stood by him” during his election. Framing his involvement as a matter of loyalty rather than defiance, he asserted that he has been campaigning for the Congress since before he even gained the right to vote and would continue to do so as long as he is physically able. His comments were aimed at projecting continuity, commitment, and a grassroots identity, perhaps in an effort to counter the negative publicity from the allegations.

The allegations against Rahul are serious and have played a central role in the party’s disciplinary measures. He has been accused of sending obscene messages to a woman actor, and several audio clips circulating in the media purportedly feature a voice resembling his urging a woman to terminate her pregnancy. While these clips have been widely discussed, their authenticity has not been independently verified. Rahul has categorically denied the allegations, labelling them as false and malicious attempts to tarnish his reputation. Notably, no FIR has been filed against him to date, further complicating the internal debate over how the party should proceed.

This lack of legal action creates ambiguity for many within the Congress. For some leaders, the absence of a formal complaint or investigation means the party must tread carefully to avoid pre-emptive punishment. For others, the nature of the allegations, combined with the sensitive context in which they have emerged, demands a firm and principled response regardless of legal status. This tension reflects broader challenges faced by political parties in India: balancing due process, public perception, gender justice, and internal discipline.

The ongoing dispute within the Kerala Congress over Rahul Mamkootathil is, therefore, more than just a question of one MLA’s suspension. It has exposed deeper fault lines within the party’s internal dynamics—between factions that prioritize discipline and accountability and those that emphasize loyalty, political pragmatism, or personal allegiance. With local body elections approaching, the Congress risks projecting an image of disunity, which could weaken its position before voters. At the same time, the controversy has reignited a debate about the standards to which public representatives must be held, especially in cases involving allegations of misconduct against women.

As the party continues to grapple with differing opinions on how to handle the suspended MLA, all eyes will be on how the leadership resolves this internal turmoil. Whether through reconciliation, stricter enforcement of rules, or a more formal review of the allegations, the Congress’s response will likely influence not only Rahul Mamkootathil’s political future but also the party’s public reputation and organisational cohesion in the months ahead.