Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil’s presence at ASHAs’ agitation raises eyebrows; sparks political theatre

Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who was suspended from the Congress following allegations of serial sexual misconduct, made his presence felt at the conclusion of the 266-day-long sit-in protest by a section of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in front of the Government Secretariat on Saturday (November 1, 2025) for better wages and retirement benefits, sparking political theatre. 

Notably, Mr. Mamkootathil’s “eyebrow-raising” attendance at the high-profile venue caused hours of uncertainty over whether Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan would inaugurate the valedictory event.

Mr. Mamkootathil had arrived early at the venue. He sat in front of the protestors, glad-handing the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. 

They included, notably, Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader K.K. Rema, MLA, who had stridently demanded Mr. Mamkootathil’s resignation as a legislator along with an array of women Congress leaders, including Uma Thomas, MLA.

Communist Marxist Party (CMP) general secretary, C.P. John, a Congress ally, and BJP leader and Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation councillor, V.V. Rajesh, flanked Mr. Mamkootathil. KPCC working president, P.C. Vishnunath, MLA, who was addressing the protestors, did not run into the Palakkad legislator.

When contacted, the Opposition Leader’s office said Mr. Satheesan was attending a leadership meeting at the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) headquarters, and he had a train to catch at 12 noon.

When asked by reporters whether his presence at the protest venue had precluded Mr. Satheesan from sharing the dais with him, Mr. Mamkootathil said: “The question is aimed at creating mischief. You (journalists) know very well that Mr. Satheesan is at the KPCC office,” he said. 

Minutes later, a Congress leader leaned close to Mr. Mamkootathil and whispered something in his ear, prompting the legislator to quit the scene immediately.

Before entering his vehicle, Mr. Mamkootathil said the cause of the ASHAs was close to his heart. “My first rule 50 notice for an adjournment debate in the Assembly concerned the plight of the ASHAs,” he added.

Close on the heels of Mr. Mamkootathil’s exit, Mr. Satheesan arrived at the venue and told ASHAs that the UDF would redress their grievances when voted to power in the 2027 Assembly elections. 

Kerala Asha Health Workers Association (KAHWA) leader, S. Mini, told The Hindu that the protestors had invited an array of leaders sympathetic to their cause, including Mr. Mamkootathil. “Some, like Suresh Gopi, MP, could not attend because of other engagements. But they all conveyed their solidarity over the phone or by sending representatives,” she said.