Woman Cong leader accuses Mamkootathil of misconduct, criticises party for ignoring complaints
Kozhikode (Kerala) (PTI): A female Congress leader on Wednesday alleged that suspended party MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who is under investigation in a rape case, had sent her inappropriate messages a few years ago, and that based on this experience, she had opposed his appointment as the state Youth Congress president.
She also claimed that the then Youth Congress president, Shafi Parambil, did not give any weight to her concerns.
Talking to the media, M A Shahanas, a leader of the Congress' cultural and literary wing, alleged that Mamkootathil had sent her an inappropriate message after she returned from the farmers' protest in Delhi.
Earlier, in a Facebook post, Shahanas referred to the second rape complaint against Mamkootathil on Tuesday and said she had spoken out at the time when it was needed.
"When Rahul Mamkootathil was being elevated and made Youth Congress president, I told the then Youth Congress president, Shafi Parambil (I have proof). The Youth Congress is considered a space where many young women can enter and grow. But when people like him come in as president, our girls will end up being exploited," she wrote on Facebook.
"I had requested that if our girls are to have a safe environment to work within the Indian National Congress, people like him should not be made president. Not only was my request ignored, but it was also met with outright mockery and ridicule from Parambil," she added.
Parambil, who is also a Lok Sabha MP and KPCC vice-president, has not responded to her allegations.
Later, speaking to reporters, Shahanas reiterated her experience with Mamkootathil and said she had informed Parambil at the time about his misconduct.
"Do you feel that Rahul Mamkootathil has not misbehaved with other women in the Congress? There are many people who have had bad experiences. I am responding now because there should be a situation where they can openly speak about it," she said.
Mamkootathil has been absconding for the past few days after police registered a case of sexual assault and forced abortion against him, based on a complaint submitted to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan last week by a woman.
On Tuesday, another woman, residing outside Kerala, sent a complaint to the party high command and KPCC, alleging rape by Mamkootathil.
He was suspended from the primary membership of the Congress on August 25.
Mamkootathil had earlier resigned as Youth Congress state president after Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused a young leader of misbehaviour, prompting protests by the BJP and the DYFI, the youth wing of the CPI(M).
Subsequently, several women and a transgender person also levelled allegations against him.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
