Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala accused the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] of trying to divert attention from the Sabarimala gold theft case. He said this is happening by focusing on sexual misconduct charges against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil. Speaking at a Calicut Press Club event on Saturday before local body polls, Chennithala rejected media claims of a split in Congress over Mamkootathil's case. "The case is related to an individual, which does not affect the people at large. The party unanimously took action against Mr. Mamkootathil by suspending him from its primary membership and then from the Congress Legislature Party. He has also resigned from the post of the Youth Congress State president. The law will take its own course," he said. He denied that Congress officially engaged Mamkootathil for election campaigning in Palakkad. Chennithala alleged that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is a "den of guilty people." He said that more serious charges hang over LDF leaders such as MLA M. Mukesh, former MLA A. Padmakumar, and N. Vasu, former Travancore Devaswom Board president, who are jailed in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft. He noted that CPI(M) had taken no action against them. On the UDF's reported tie-up with the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind-backed Welfare Party of India, Chennithala clarified there was no formal alliance. He said cooperation happened only with certain individuals and local groups in some places. He added the CPI(M) has no right to criticise since it earlier sought votes from JeH, Social Democratic Party of India, and the People’s Democratic Party. Lastly, Chennithala accused the CPI(M) of appeasing the majority community while tarnishing minorities because the minorities did not vote for it in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.