The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has expelled Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil from the party following the rejection of his anticipatory bail plea in a rape case. This decision, made on December 4, 2025, aims to address ongoing allegations of sexual misconduct that have plagued the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala since August.

KPCC president Sunny Joseph announced the expulsion, stating that Mamkootathil's continued membership had become "ethically untenable" due to the serious accusations against him. The court in Thiruvananthapuram dismissed his bail plea related to a case involving a woman who accused him of rape and coerced termination of pregnancy. The complaint was filed just days before the expulsion, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

The allegations against Mamkootathil escalated after a 23-year-old woman claimed he raped her in 2023 after inviting her to a resort under the pretext of discussing marriage. She expressed her fears of social media backlash, similar to what other alleged victims faced, and reached out to the KPCC leadership to report the incident. Joseph forwarded her complaint to the State Police Chief, denying any claims that the party had protected Mamkootathil.

An internal meeting of KPCC leaders concluded that the party needed to distance itself from Mamkootathil to prevent further damage to its reputation, especially with local body elections approaching. The expulsion marks a significant fall from grace for Mamkootathil, who had previously gained popularity through social media.

Despite some party members defending him, citing a lack of formal complaints against him, the situation changed dramatically when the recent complaint was made. Following the court's decision, police have initiated efforts to arrest Mamkootathil, issuing a lookout notice across various states.

Sunny Joseph emphasized that the Congress party is committed to taking decisive action in such cases, contrasting it with other parties that may protect accused members. He also suggested that Mamkootathil should consider resigning from his MLA position voluntarily. The party's leadership is confident that this decision will not adversely affect their electoral prospects.