Rahul Mamkootathil, Palakkad’s beleaguered MLA who was untraceable for the last two weeks following two cases of sexual abuse against him, emerged from hiding and cast his ballot at Kunnathurmedu polling station in ward 24 of the Palakkad municipality in Kerala on Thursday (December 11, 2025).
He reached the polling booth around 4.45 p.m., putting to rest speculations about disappearance after the police filed a case against him following a complaint of sexual abuse by a woman. Later, a second sexual abuse case was registered against the MLA.
A strong police force was deployed near the polling station anticipating Mr. Mamkootathil’s arrival. Police sources said they had received information that he would show up in the afternoon. The MLA had secured anticipatory bails in both the cases.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] workers heckled him and raised slogans against him. They booed loudly as he stepped out of the car and made his way towards the polling booth.
There was no queue in the booth when he arrived. United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Prasobh welcomed Mr. Mamkootathil in front of the polling station. He polled his vote within a minute and returned without answering persistent questions from the media.
