Kochi, 25 August(HS): Congress leader Rahul Mamkoottathil, a close protégé of Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition and K C Venugopal, the “spiritual leader” of Gandhi, was temporarily suspended from the party with a request to him not to get involved in any sexual escapades for the time being. The news about his temporary suspension from the party was announced by Sunny Joseph, president of KPCC, on Monday morning.

Though temporarily suspended from the party, Rahul Mamkoottathil can continue as an MLA. This is a face-saving strategy by the Congress, as many leaders of the party are his beneficiaries. The controversial leader took to social media with pictures he had taken with the young scion took the KPCC leaders by surprise.

The fact that the Election Commission of India would not hold a by-election caused by Rahul Mamkoottathil’s resignation has not made any impact on the KPCC leadership.

The opposition BJP dared the Congress to make Rahul Mamkoottathil resign from the post of MLA. “It is an open and shut case. Once the case is filed, taken up for trial, Mamkoottathil would end up in prison for years. It was known at the time of his contesting the election from Palakkad that Rahul Mamkoottathil was a notorious character,” said C Krishnakumar, secretary, Kerala BJP.

Mamkoottathil, who remains shut down in his palatial castle in Adoor, has not come out even at the time of going to press. He is surrounded and protected by armed security guards and entry to his vast estate is only after a tight scrutiny. It is reported from the Mamkoottathil estate that the young leader threatened the KPCC bosses that he would take them down with them if he were made to go.

Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti