Expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil stated that Kerala voters are prepared to remove Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the upcoming Assembly elections, similar to the ruling Left’s defeat in the December 2023 local body polls. Mamkootathil criticized the government’s focus on the Sabarimala gold heist case and the questioning of Congress leaders by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) as a politically motivated attempt to improve its image before the elections. He accused the government and media of diverting attention from governance failures and questioned the timing and motives behind the investigations.
Mamkootathil expressed concerns about the investigation’s emphasis on personal connections rather than criminal accountability, raising doubts about the SIT’s approach in the case. He highlighted the questioning of senior Congress MP Adoor Prakash by the SIT and criticized the scrutiny on personal associations rather than addressing the core issues. Mamkootathil also questioned the relevance of connecting an Opposition MP to a crime that occurred during the ruling party’s tenure, suggesting potential ulterior motives behind such actions.
The expelled MLA, who won in the November 2024 by-election, has emerged as a vocal critic of Chief Minister Vijayan. Mamkootathil, recently released on bail after facing allegations in multiple rape cases, claimed that the charges against him are politically motivated. He emphasized that voters would discern the political agenda behind the investigations and respond accordingly in the upcoming elections.
