LDF and UDF on collision path over Ethics Committee weighing Mamkootathil’s Assembly disqualification

The ruling front and the Opposition appeared headed for a direct confrontation over the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) move to bring Palakkad legislator Rahul Mamkootathil—who faces accusations of rape and serial sexual predation—under the scrutiny of the Kerala Assembly’s Ethics and Privileges Committee with a view to seeking his possible disqualification from the House.

The ruling LDF holds a majority in the nine-member committee, which is scheduled to hear a plea filed by CPI(M) legislator D.K. Murali on February 23, seeking Mr. Mamkootathil’s disqualification on grounds of what he described as felonious, exploitative, and unrepentant conduct targeting women.

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said the committee lacked the legislative competence to disqualify an elected member of the Assembly, while stressing that the Congress was not defending Mr. Mamkootathil.

“The Assembly is setting a dangerous and erroneous precedent by allowing the committee to decide whether an elected representative should continue in the House. Many MLAs face cases arising out of their political and social work. CPI(M) legislator M. Mukesh is facing rape charges. Any future government with a majority in the Ethics and Privileges Committee could invoke cases against rival legislators as a pretext for politically motivated disqualification,” Mr. Satheesan said.

However, he argued that LDF legislator and former Transport Minister Antony Raju, of the Janadhipathya Kerala Congress, was a fit case for disqualification, citing his conviction by a trial court for tampering with evidence in a serious narcotics smuggling case involving a foreign national. By contrast, Mr. Satheesan noted, no court has convicted Mr. Mamkootathil.

Mr. Satheesan reiterated that the UDF had no compulsion to defend Mr. Mamkootathil. “The Congress expelled him from the party at the first indication of wrongdoing, without waiting for his arrest or the filing of a chargesheet,” he said.

The Congress, he added, was also mindful that the Ethics and Privileges Committee includes only two UDF members—Roji M. John of the Congress and U.A. Latheef of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The committee is chaired by CPI(M) legislator A. Murali Perunelly, and its ruling front members include CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan, LDF convener T.P. Ramakrishnan, and CPI(M) central secretariat member K.K. Shailaja.