UDF's 'Candidate' Shafi Parambil;, Vadakara MP as 'Star Campaigner'

PALAKKAD: 'Only Shafi Parambil will win here.' This was the answer given by Faizal, who drives an autorickshaw in Sulthanpet when asked who is likely to win the Palakkad elections. Though the UDF candidate in the Palakkad constituency is Rahul Mamkootathil, the star is former MLA and Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil. That is the ground reality among workers and Congress supporters.

As soon as Shafi Parambil arrives as part of the election campaign, there is a rush of people, including women and children, to take selfies and click pictures with him. Shafi's presence is also a slight advantage for Rahul Mankoottathil over the candidates from the other two fronts. However, while the explosion he Congress since the announcement of the candidate is not visible at the moment, the undercurrents have not stopped. It remains to be seen whether Shafi's popularity in the Palakkad constituency will turn into votes for Rahul and whether he will be able to overcome the undercurrents.

Rahul Mamkootathil is being considered as the candidate of Shafi Parambil. When Shafi Parambil is with Rahul for campaigning among the people, it gives more confidence to Rahul. According to Congress activists, Shafi's acceptance is due to the love given by the people for standing by them in the problems of Palakkad and for doing a lot of things in the constituency.

At the same time, the people have a disagreement about the situation in which the Palakkad by-election is happening. It is alleged that in order to win in Vadakara, a by-election was necessitated in a constituency where the BJP is in second place and BJP was given an opportunity to win. At the same time, the BJP and the CPM mock that Shafi had to take Rahul to the constituency and introduce him, as Rahul did not even have acceptance in his own party.

P Sarin, who is contesting as an independent candidate, told Kerala Kaumudi that the people are not going to accept if they are told that "you have to make him win and I will make him better". Sarin opined that the Palakkad constituency needs someone who has an independent personality.