Kerala Assembly polls 2026: Women’s issues weaponised for smear campaigns, allege critics

With several prominent legislators accused of sexual violence contesting and campaigning in the upcoming polls, questions are being raised about the seriousness with which political parties approach the issue, according to women leaders. Critics argue that women’s issues are reduced to political tools and rather than being treated as a serious policy priority, concerns about their safety are often weaponised for smear campaigns and selectively amplified during elections.

Recently a wave of sexual assault allegations were raised against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil. The Congress had suspended the MLA from its primary membership following the allegations.

The Congress has denied ticket to Eldhose Kunnappilly, the legislator from Perumbavoor, after he was embroiled in a similar controversy.

In another incident, a Special Investigation Team had earlier filed a chargesheet in an alleged rape case against actor and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] MLA M. Mukesh. Though not in the fray this time, Mr. Mukesh says that he will campaign for CPI(M) candidate S. Jayamohan in the Kollam Assembly constituency.

Congress MLA M. Vincent, who is contesting from Kovalam, was arrested in 2017 after being charged with sexual harassment and stalking.

A woman youth leader had reportedly raised complaints of sexual misbehaviour against former CPI(M) MLA P. K. Sasi. He is running as an Independent in Ottappalam with the support of the United Democratic Front.

Incidentally, as many as 15,385 rape cases had been registered, along with 26,209 cases of molestation in Kerala between 2020 and 2026, according to the State Crime Records Bureau.

Women’s safety has seldom emerged as a key issue influencing poll agendas, says writer and academic J. Devika.

“They use these allegationsas excuses to paint the opponent in a bad light. Under the pretext of being supportive to women, they just want to weaponise the issue to their advantage,” she says.

“Their sole agenda is to win the election. The focus should be on which party is willing to protect women’s freedom. None of them will do. Leaders like Mr. Sasi should be banned from politics,” she adds.

According to her, what exists is a series of cases that have been heavily mediated by various political parties and the media.

“There is no evidence of systematic or organised wrongdoing at the level of political parties. Unless such incidents become institutional in nature, it is unlikely that this issue will influence electoral outcomes,” she says.

Actor Maala Parvathi says nowadays people have become increasingly sceptical when it comes to sexual harassment cases.

“There has been a noticeable shift in how society perceives and responds to such cases. Unless an individual has been formally convicted, many people are hesitant to take a firm stance against them. As a result, these cases are unlikely to have a significant impact on the election,” she says.

She says that people view these issues as isolated, individual cases. “But parties have to be criticised for fielding these tainted candidates,” says Ms. Parvathi.

Parvathi Menon, a lawyer in Kochi, says that women’s safety can become a significant poll issue, particularly when candidates face allegations of sexual violence. But its prominence depends on public response, media focus, and how strongly it resonates alongside other concerns, she says.

“While there is a valid expectation that political parties act responsibly in fielding or projecting candidates and they may justifiably face criticism for doing otherwise, it is also important to balance this with the legal principle that allegations do not amount to proven guilt. An accused is just accused of an offence until he is proven to have committed the offence,” says Ms. Menon.

Ultimately, the electoral impact of such issues varies, she says. “Some voters may prioritise them heavily, while others may base their choices on different considerations making the outcome dependent on a mix of ethical concerns, legal standards, and voter priorities,” she adds.

Published – April 01, 2026 09:42 am IST