Kerala BJP Vice President C Krishnakumar has denied allegations of sexual harassment made against him. He said the complaint is an attempt to distract from the BJP’s ongoing protests against Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who is also facing multiple charges of misconduct.
Speaking to the media, Krishnakumar said, “If anyone thinks they can threaten me with such allegations and stop me from protesting against Rahul Mamkootathil, they are wrong. BJP Palakkad will continue its strong protests. People here know there is no truth in the charges against me.”
The Complaint
A woman filed a complaint with Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, accusing Krishnakumar of sexually assaulting her a few years ago. She also claimed that she had earlier informed senior BJP leaders, including V Muraleedharan, MT Ramesh, and Subhash (then Organisation General Secretary), but no action was taken.
The complainant argued that Krishnakumar has “no moral right” to lead protests against Mamkootathil and demanded that the BJP expel him from the party.
The Congress Angle
The controversy comes at a time when Congress leader and Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil is facing his own set of allegations. Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused a “young leader” of misbehaviour, sending offensive messages, and inviting her to a hotel. She later named Mamkootathil, after which several other women and even a transgender person came forward with similar allegations.
Following the accusations, Mamkootathil resigned as Youth Congress state president and was suspended from the Congress party’s primary membership. He has denied any wrongdoing, saying George was his “friend” and that he would pursue legal action if a formal complaint was made.
Political Tensions in Palakkad
Krishnakumar has been a well-known BJP figure in Palakkad for years and is currently at the forefront of protests against Mamkootathil. The Congress leader was elected MLA in November last year after winning a by-election for the Palakkad seat. The bypoll was held after sitting MLA Shafi Parambil was elected as Lok Sabha MP from Vatakara in the general elections.
As the political battle intensifies, both BJP and Congress leaders in Kerala are under pressure from serious allegations, keeping the spotlight firmly on Palakkad.
