Rahul Mamkootathil: Did Congress party in Kerala do enough by suspending disgraced MLA?

After all the sound and fury, the Congress party in Kerala took the softest stance possible – suspend disgraced Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil for six months. This is all about kicking a problem that had consumed the party in the last few days down the road – and then hoping everyone will stop talking about it by then. And in a best-case scenario, forget all about it.

So, all that strong talk about Mamkootathil being on his way out of the party – which was how many of Congress’ top leaders framed it initially – has amounted to just words.

Now, Congress men will say that Mamkootathil’s suspension is more than what the CPM managed to do with its own MLA, actor Mukesh from Kollam. (Even if some of the accusers’ statements against Mukesh seem to be nothing more than serial allegations made against Malayalam actors.)

But for the Congress, the issue of Rahul Mamkootathil will not go away in a hurry. VD Satheensan, the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, and the Congress Kerala unit chief Sunny Joseph can keep talking about ‘strong action’ taken.

There could well be more leaking of alleged messages made by Mamkootathil to sundry women – but the Congress brass can keep telling themselves they have already taken action.

While they are at it, some of these Congress politicians will do well just to control some of the rabid utterings made by Mamkootathil’s supporters against women who had made those accusations.

And even those made against one of party’s own MLAs – Uma Thomas, who represents Thrikakkara. Ever since she voiced her opinion that Mamkootathil should be thrown out of the party, she’s facing the brunt of the attacks on social media channels. One has to assume from her own party men.

Then there is that Congress MP who doubted the accusations made against Mamkootathil by the one of the women, because of the way she was dressed on her social media platforms. Which is unfortunate. (Thankfully, VD Satheesan had the grace to call out his fellow party man’s words as ‘politically incorrect’.)   

Because whichever way one looks at it, Kerala and Indian society have changed. If random male politicians still can’t get it, they are the ones at fault. No amount of adding ‘Jis’ when talking about senior women politicians in their own parties is no longer enough. Kerala’s male politicians, at least some of them, need a new mindset.

As for Kerala’s voters, there are elections approaching. They can decide whether they are better off with what sort of politicians they want to represent them. If a Mamkootathil is exactly the type they want, let them vote for him.

As everyone keeps saying, each society gets the sort of politicians it deserves. Maybe Mamkootathil is what Kerala deserves – or maybe not.

By May next, Kerala gets to choose. In the meantime, could Kerala’s congressmen refrain from attacking Uma Thomas? Or anyone else who feels strongly about Mamkootathil?