Kannur, 25

Congress leader and Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who is facing multiple sexual misconduct allegations, has been suspended from the primary membership of the party on Monday, KPCC President Sunny Joseph said.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief, however, rejected the political opponents' demand for Mamkootathil's resignation as MLA.

Joseph also said the legislator has set a "model" by stepping down as youth congress state president without waiting for a formal complaint or a case being lodged.

During the brief press conference convened at his house in Iritty here, the veteran leader didn't specify the duration of the suspension period.

Joseph said the Congress viewed the allegations against Rahul Mamkootathil as serious.

The Congress leadership in Kerala made a series of consultations with various leaders, including Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, former KPCC chiefs and AICC working committee members from the state in this regard, and took a "unanimous" decision in the matter, he said.

"The party has not received any complaint in this regard so far. There has also been no legal complaint. No case has been registered anywhere," Joseph added.

So, there is no justification or logic in the demand raised by political opponents for the resignation of Mamkootathil as MLA, he said.

"They have no moral right to raise such a demand. There is no such precedence in Kerala politics," the KPCC chief further said and maintained that the Congress values the dignity and safety of women to the core.

After announcing the decision, Sunny Joseph hurriedly concluded the press conference. He refused to answer any questions raised by the reporters, including whether there is any party probe against the allegations, cyber bullying against party MLA Uma Thomas, allegedly carried out by Congress activists supporting Mamkootathil.

Rahul Mamkootathil recently quit as Youth Congress state president after Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused "a young leader" of a well-known political party of misbehaviour and subsequent protests by BJP and DYFI, the youth wing of the CPI(M). Subsequently, several women and a transgender person accused him of similar charges.

He was elected as MLA in November last year in a by-election held for the Palakkad seat, following the election of party leader and then sitting MLA Shafi Parambil as Lok Sabha MP from Vatakara in the general election.

While talking to reporters in Thiruvalla, Satheesan said it is for the first time that any political party is taking a strong action on such an issue with strong determination.

"Congress has taken the biggest decision any political movement can take after examining such an issue. The party has courageously taken a decision that no other political party in Kerala politics has ever taken," he said.