The Congress party in Kerala finds itself under intense fire after shocking allegations of sexual harassment and obscene conduct have emerged against its MLA from Palakkad, Rahul Mamkootathil. What began with harassment claims from Malayalam actor Rini Ann George has now snowballed into a much bigger scandal, as a trans woman has accused the Congress leader of saying he was “sexually frustrated” and wanted to “rape” her.
This is not just about an individual’s misconduct it is about the Congress party’s deafening silence and its utter inability to keep its leaders accountable, despite projecting itself as the champion of women’s safety, law, and order.
Fresh Shocking Charges from Trans Woman
A trans woman, identified as Avanthika, has levelled the most serious charges yet. Speaking to Malayalam news channels, she alleged that Rahul Mamkootathil messaged her directly, claiming he wanted to rape her. “I think he is sexually frustrated because he said he wants to rape me. He said we can go to Bengaluru or Hyderabad and do it,” Avanthika said.
According to her, their interaction began innocently after they met during a debate in the elections. Later, he sought her phone number through Messenger and switched to Telegram where chats vanish once read allegedly to hide his tracks. What started as what she thought was friendship, Avanthika said, turned into a disgusting, traumatising experience.
This is not just misconduct it is criminal intent being casually expressed by someone holding constitutional office. And yet, Congress has no answers.
Actor Rini Ann George Exposes Pattern of Harassment
The allegations by Avanthika come on the heels of Malayalam actor and journalist Rini Ann George’s revelations against the same MLA. Rini accused Mamkootathil of repeatedly sending her offensive messages and even inviting her to a hotel.
“I had warned him that I would inform his party, but he continued his behaviour,” Rini told the press. She further alleged that women within the Congress party itself had suffered at the hands of the same man. “It’s being said that the wives and daughters of the leaders of the party have had bad experiences with him. I want to ask, which woman will these politicians protect when they cannot even protect women in their own families?” she lashed out.
Her words expose a deeper rot: this is not just about one MLA, but about a political culture that enables and shields such behaviour.
Writer Also Speaks Out; BJP Mounts Pressure
The scandal has widened further as writer Honey Bhaskaran also accused the Congress MLA of sending her unsolicited and inappropriate messages. According to her, Rahul initially sent travel-related texts, but later bombarded her with repeated personal messages, forcing her to stop responding. She later discovered that he had even badmouthed her among Youth Congress workers.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has staged a protest march demanding his resignation, but Congress has only engaged in tokenism. Mamkootathil resigned as Youth Congress president after mounting pressure but still sits as an MLA—protected by a party that otherwise lectures the nation on women’s rights and morality.
The Congress Hypocrisy on Display
What makes this episode more disturbing is Congress’s blatant double standards. This is the same party that endlessly claims to stand for women’s dignity, safety, and equality. Yet, here is one of its own MLAs accused of openly saying he “wants to rape” a woman, harassing an actor repeatedly, and messaging writers obscenely—and the party does nothing concrete.
Will the Congress fire him? Or will it quietly protect him until the storm passes? When Congress leaders cannot stop themselves from speaking vulgarly and predatorily towards women, what moral right does the party have to comment on law and order in the country?
The silence of Congress leadership is not just shameful—it is dangerous. It signals to women that their dignity and safety can be casually sacrificed for political convenience.
Congress Cannot Preach What It Doesn’t Practice
The allegations against Rahul Mamkootathil ranging from vulgar messages to an outright claim of wanting to commit rape are among the most serious that can ever be levelled against a lawmaker. Instead of swift disciplinary action, the Congress party has chosen delay, token gestures, and silence.
If the party cannot keep its own leaders in check, how can it claim to protect ordinary women? If Congress wants to be taken seriously, it must answer one simple question: will it fire Rahul Mamkootathil and send a strong message, or will it once again prove that its high-sounding speeches on women’s rights are nothing but empty hypocrisy?