A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protest march targeting Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil’s office in Palakkad, Kerala, descended into chaos on Saturday, as activists clashed with police over allegations of sexual misconduct against the legislator. The demonstrators, braving heavy rain, attempted to breach barricades, prompting police to deploy water cannons twice and forcibly detain several protesters, including women, who were raising slogans and waving BJP flags.

The protest, led by BJP’s Yuva Morcha, follows accusations by Malayalam actress Rini Ann George, writer Honey Bhaskaran, and transwoman Avantika Vishnu, who alleged Mamkootathil sent inappropriate messages and made coercive threats, including pressuring a woman for an abortion. A leaked audio clip purportedly capturing Mamkootathil threatening a pregnant woman intensified the controversy, leading to his resignation as Kerala Youth Congress president on August 21 and a six-month suspension from the Congress party’s primary membership on August 25.

BJP leader C. Krishnakumar, who lost to Mamkootathil in the November 2024 Palakkad by-election, vowed to block the MLA from attending public or official events in the constituency, stating, “Organizers must decide whether to invite Rahul or not.” The CPI(M)’s Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) also protested, demanding his resignation as MLA. Kerala Police’s Crime Branch registered a case against Mamkootathil on August 27 under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for stalking, criminal intimidation, and Kerala Police Act provisions, despite no formal complaints from accusers.

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Congress leaders, including V.D. Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala, have promised a thorough probe, but the party’s decision to suspend rather than expel Mamkootathil has drawn criticism for avoiding a by-election. Transgender Congress secretary Anna Raju alleged the accusations are politically motivated, citing BJP’s influence, though Avantika’s claims remain unverified due to “vanish mode” Telegram messages. As Kerala gears up for 2026 Assembly polls, the scandal threatens Congress’s image, with Mamkootathil defiantly rejecting resignation calls, asserting no legal complaints exist.

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