Rahul Mamkootathil was suspended from the party last month.
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Thiruvananthapuram: Congress has expelled rape cases accused Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil from the party.
The decision came soon after the Thiruvananthapuram principal sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail plea on Thursday.
Mamkootathil, who is the MLA of Palakkad, is absconding for the last eight days after the state police registered a case for rape and forceful abortion against him on the basis of a woman's complaint.
He is suspected to be in a hide out in Karnataka. There were unconfirmed reports that the police nabbed him and a driver who helped him to move around in Karnataka was also held.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph said that the decision to expel Mamkootathil from the party was taken unanimously with AICC's approval. He also said that Mamkootathil should preferably quit the MLA post. It is for him to decide, he said.
Already two sexual assault cases were registered against Mamkootathil. A Congress woman leader also alleged that she faced misbehaviour from Mamkootathil.
Mamkootathil was suspended from the Congress in August after sexual allegations surfaced against him. He had also resigned the Youth Congress state president post.
Congress' damage control move as polls approach
The swift action by the Congress against Mamkootathil could be seen as a damage control move as the crucial local body polls are on December 9 and 11.
By expelling Mamkootathil from the party Congress hopes to resist the criticisms from the CPM camps as rape case accused actor-turned CPM MLA M Mukesh as well as a few other CPM leaders who faced sexual allegations did not face any action from the CPM.
Even as there were criticisms that the Congress was waiting for the outcome of Mamkootathil's anticipatory bail plea, Congress leaders said that the decision to expel him was taken on Wednesday itself and was awaiting AICC's formal nod.
Though some senior leaders earlier expressed their differences over taking action against Mamkootathil, with a second rape case being registered against him, they too were unable to defend the young leader anymore, especially since the local body polls are hardly as few days away.
CPM celebrates Congress' youth brigade's fall
The CPM camps were literally celebrating the fall of Mamkootathil by bursting crackers as the youth brigade of the Congress comprising Mamkootathil as well as Shafi Parambil MP were actively taking forward the party and playing key role in attracting youngsters to the party with their vibrancy.
Mamkootathil was also well known for his sharp attack against the CPM in debates.
Incidentally, Mamkootathil's expulsion from the Congress came exactly a year after he was sworn-in as MLA after scripting a thumping victory in his maiden electoral fray in the Palakkad assembly by-poll.