In a bombshell revelation that’s rocking the Kerala Congress, prominent Youth Congress leader M.A. Shahanas has come forward claiming she alerted Shafi Parambil about Rahul Mamkootathil’s alleged predatory conduct two years ago—only to be dismissed and mocked. Her public stand, amid fresh rape allegations against the suspended MLA, exposes deep rifts in the party’s youth wing and raises tough questions about women’s safety in political circles.
The controversy erupted on December 3, 2025, when Shahanas, a general secretary of the Congress-affiliated Samskara Sahithi cultural and literary wing and director at Macbeth Publications, detailed her ordeal in a raw Facebook post. She recounted warning Parambil, then Youth Congress state president, against elevating Mamkootathil as his successor in 2023, citing fears for female members’ security. “If such persons became president, young women joining the organization would be exploited,” Shahanas wrote, emphasizing that her plea was met with “outright mockery” from Parambil. Speaking to reporters in Kozhikode later that day, she escalated: “Besides me, many YC women objected to appointing Rahul. If Shafi denies this, I have proof.”
Shahanas’ disclosure ties directly to a string of scandals engulfing Mamkootathil, the 35-year-old Palakkad MLA and former Youth Congress chief. Just a day prior, on December 2, a woman lodged a second formal complaint accusing him of rape and inducing miscarriage—following an initial August 2025 allegation from an actor and writer who claimed repeated assaults dating back to 2021. That earlier complainant alleged Parambil had shielded Mamkootathil despite multiple reports, a charge Shahanas now amplifies. Mamkootathil, who succeeded Parambil as Youth Congress president in late 2023 amid internal party flak, was suspended by the Congress high command on November 28, 2025, after the first case surfaced publicly. He’s been absconding since, with police raids yielding no trace, turning the hunt into a statewide spectacle.
The backstory adds layers of betrayal. Shahanas shared a personal incident from the 2020-2021 farmers’ agitation: After returning from Delhi protests, Mamkootathil messaged her suggesting they “could have traveled together,” which she flagged as inappropriate and immediately reported to Parambil via text. “I gave my reply there itself,” she told media, implying a firm shutdown, but stressed Parambil’s silence spoke volumes. She accused him of fostering an unsafe environment during his tenure, where complaints about Mamkootathil piled up unchecked. “Shafi speaks eloquently on women’s issues—why did he make someone like Rahul president and MLA?” Shahanas demanded, vowing evidence if challenged.
Parambil, now Vadakara MP and a rising Congress star mentored by the late Oommen Chandy, has stayed mum on Shahanas’ claims as of December 4. In a November 29 address at a Kozhikode event, he backed the suspension as a “party decision” while quoting Rahul Gandhi’s zero-tolerance for insults to Keralites—ironic amid the Gandhi name confusion in headlines. Party insiders whisper of factional feuds: Parambil’s group, once tight with Mamkootathil, now navigates backlash from national leaders like AICC secretary Krishna Allavaru, who slammed both in a 2023 Youth Congress meet for organizational lapses. A YouTube explainer from News9 Kerala on December 3 amplified the fire, with Shahanas reiterating Parambil’s alleged protection racket.
Public and expert reactions are pouring in, painting a grim picture of gender dynamics in Indian politics. Women’s rights activist and former NCW member Nirmala Samantula called it “a systemic failure,” telling The News Minute: “Warnings ignored mock #MeToo’s lessons—Congress must audit its youth wings for predators.” On social media, #ShahanasSpeaksOut trended in Kerala, with users from feminist collectives like #MeTooIndia sharing solidarity posts: “Finally, a sister calling out the enablers—brave move in a boys’ club.” Rival CPM seized the moment, with state secretary M.V. Govindan tweeting: “Congress’ moral facade crumbles—LDF stands for women’s dignity.” Congress loyalists, however, rallied behind Shahanas, demanding an internal probe.
For everyday Keralites, this saga cuts deep into lifestyle and trust in institutions. In a state boasting India’s highest female literacy (96%) and leading gender ratios, such allegations erode faith in youth politics, where 70% of Youth Congress members are under 30 per party data. Economically, it spotlights the publishing world—Shahanas’ Macbeth outlet, focused on women’s lit, faces scrutiny amid her activism, potentially chilling free speech in media hubs like Kozhikode. Politically, with 2026 assembly polls looming, it weakens UDF’s anti-LDF pitch, especially after Mamkootathil’s controversial Palakkad bypoll win in 2024, where Priyanka Gandhi urged civility amid his spats with rivals. Tech-savvy youth, active on platforms like Instagram for campaigns, now question safe spaces in digital organizing.
As investigations intensify—police probing the second complaint for evidence of coercion, and Congress mulling a women’s cell inquiry—the spotlight’s on Parambil. Will he address the “proof” Shahanas holds, or fracture further? Shahanas’ courage has cracked open a reckoning: In Kerala’s progressive facade, whispers of misconduct demand thunderous reform. The party’s next moves could heal wounds or widen them, but one thing’s clear—silence is no longer an option.
By Mark Smith
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