Congress leader Rahul Mamkootathil, MLA, on Sunday, gave no definitive answer concerning bipartisan political calls for his resignation following accusations of sexual misconduct.

Emerging out of an almost hermitic existence, Mr. Mamkootathil, nevertheless, told a hastily arranged press conference at his residence at Adoor in Pathanamthitta on Sunday that he did not desire to push the Congress into a political purgatory. Congress workers “should not hang their heads in shame” because of him.