Expelled leader Rahul Mamkootathil’s association with Congress workers exposes rift in Pathanamthitta unit
Internal conflict has erupted within the Pathanamthitta unit of the Congress party following the continued involvement of expelled leader Rahul Mamkootathil. While some local leaders support him, others are distancing the party from him due to his past expulsion over sexual abuse allegations.
Why it matters
The rift highlights the challenges political parties face in managing internal discipline and public perception when controversial figures maintain grassroots influence.
Nearly a year after Rahul Mamkootathil was expelled from the Congress, his continued association with party workers has trigerred an infighting within the party in Pathanamthitta, with leaders at loggerheads over whether to stand by the former Palakkad MLA.
The latest flashpoint is the clash between Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Youth Congress workers at Adoor General Hospital on Saturday night, in which Mr. Mamkootathil has been arraigned as an accused. Pathanamthitta District Congress Committee (DCC) president Satish Kochuparambil threw his weight behind the expelled leader in the aftermath, describing him as a Congress worker at heart. But the endorsement has drawn sharp objections from a section of district leaders and workers, who oppose any show of support for Mr. Mamkootathil, who had been expelled over allegations of sexual abuse of women.
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