M. A. Shahanas Expelled from KPCC Samskara Sahithi WhatsApp Group Following Criticism Against Rahul and Shafi

Kozhikode: M. A. Shahanas, the state general secretary of KPCC Samskara Sahithi and a Congress fellow traveler, was temporarily removed from the official WhatsApp group of the organization’s Kozhikode district unit. The action followed her recent strong criticism against Youth Congress leaders Rahul Mankootathil and Shafi Parambil. However, her expulsion was short-lived, as she was reinstated to the group after the incident garnered significant media attention on news channels.

Shahanas had publicly revealed that Rahul Mankootathil had behaved inappropriately with her in the past, a matter which she claims she had brought to the attention of Shafi Parambil at the time. She recounted that Rahul had sent her an inappropriate message when she returned from Delhi after participating in a farmers’ protest. She stated that Rahul had messaged, “We could have gone together to Delhi,” which she initially interpreted as an invitation to travel with all Youth Congress leaders. However, she later realized he was asking her to travel with him alone, and she responded accordingly, she told the media.

Her statements came amidst fresh allegations of harassment against Rahul Mankootathil. Shahanas, a former Youth Congress leader herself, further alleged that she had warned Shafi Parambil against appointing Rahul Mankootathil as the state president of Youth Congress, citing concerns that girls could be exploited. She claimed that Shafi Parambil had dismissed her warnings with contempt.

The controversy highlights internal discord within the Congress party’s cultural and youth wings in Kerala, drawing public attention to the allegations and the subsequent internal disciplinary action, which was later reversed.