Thiruvananthapuram: Simi Rosebell John, a senior leader of Kerala Congress, was expelled on Sunday after she accused the grand old party of having a “casting couch” similar to the one in Malayalam film industry.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) said in an official statement that it has expelled Simi from primary membership of the party for insulting female leaders before the media.
Simi, an influential Congress figure in Ernakulam, made a sensational claim in an interview to a regional TV channel.
She said that women in the party have faced exploitation, and are often required to give out favours to get opportunities.
She also levelled allegations of sexual harassment against many Congress leaders like VD Satheesan, stressing that women could ascend to significant positions only by ‘impressing’ male leaders, often compromising talent and experience.
Congress leaders slammed Simi for trying to psychologically break and defame lakhs of women leaders and workers of Congress with the connivance of political enemies.
In a joint complaint, female leaders of KPCC political affairs committee and state president of Mahila Congress urged the state body to take action against Simi.
