Palakkad (Kerala), March 29 Allegations of sexual assault involving former Congress leaders in Palakkad have become a topic of discussion in the Kerala Assembly elections, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring to the matter at an NDA rally on Sunday.
In what appeared to be a reference to the alleged multiple sexual assault cases involving the sitting MLA of the Palakkad constituency, Rahul Mamkootathil, who won the seat in a by-election on a Congress ticket in 2024, and a municipal councillor from the party, Modi urged women to be cautious.
The PM was primarily campaigning for the party's prominent woman leader in Kerala, Sobha Surendran, who is contesting from the Palakkad assembly seat.
Referring to the election of Droupadi Murmu as President of India, he said the NDA had elevated a daughter from an ordinary family to the highest office in the country.
Modi said that, on the other hand, in Palakkad, the Congress's own leaders had become a threat to women's safety.
"Just yesterday, Congress was forced to expel another of its leaders following serious allegations of the exploitation of a woman. This is the reality of these parties, and the women of Kerala need to remain cautious about it," Modi said.
The Palakkad District Congress Committee on Saturday had expelled Prashob C Valsan, a councillor from the 24th division, after reports of a sexual assault incident surfaced.
Mamkootathil was expelled from the Congress following earlier allegations of sexual misconduct.
Meanwhile, Mamkootathil hit back, saying the Prime Minister has no right to speak about women's safety.
In a Facebook post, the Palakkad MLA referred to various cases against BJP and NDA leaders, including allegations against Brij Bhushan over the harassment of women wrestlers.