As Cong protests price rise, Unnithan lowers party stock

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It could not have been more ill-timed for Congress in Kerala. On Monday, when the party was holding state-wide protests to highlight the price rise of essential commodities in the state, it had to digest a fall in its own stock, when senior leader Rajmohan Unnithan, who was found in suspicious circumstances with a woman, was detained by people at Manjeri in Malappuram district. The two were taken to the local police station around midnight on Sunday amidst much drama.

Unnithan, who secured bail on Monday morning after the midnight theatrics, denied allegations of any immoral activity, arguing that he was in fact on his way to Bangalore, where his son is studying.

By then, however, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and opposition leader Oommen Chandy were left to fend questions regarding Unnithan, rather than the party’s protests against price rise. The Congress leaders were peppered with questions on what action would be taken against Unnithan, who had been detained by a large group of people, some of who took videos of the duo as Unnithan and the woman were being taken from the house in a police jeep.

Chennithala said he was aware of the incident and that “appropriate action” would be taken in the matter after the necessary investigation. Mr Chandy said he had no personal opinion to make about the issue and that the party stance would be given by the KPCC president.

However, the party’s image took another blow when Mahila Congress president Shanimol Usman demanded inquiry into the matter. She demanded that the party leadership take cognisance of the matter and take appropriate action against Unnithan.

Unnithan, who had once been suspended from Congress, also had a break in filmdom, before returning to the party as a general secretary of the KPCC before creating the midnight drama in Manjeri.

A large crowd gathered outside the house at which local people detained Unnithan and the woman, and Democratic Youth Federation of India workers on Monday sat in protest outside the police station where the two were held, demanding action against Unnithan for immoral activity.