VT Balram or Rahul Mamkootathil? Shafi Parambil resigns as Palakkad MLA

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following his victory in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Shafi Parambil has resigned as Palakkad MLA. Shafi tendered his resignation by reaching the office of Speaker AN Shamseer. He was accompanied by leaders, including Opposition Leader VD Satheesan. Speaking to the media, Shafi said that he would definitely miss the Kerala Assembly.

Shafi defeated CPM leader KK Shailaja in the Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency by a huge margin of 1.15 lakh votes. The election campaign in Vadakara was heated and full of controversies.

Following the resignation of Shafi Parambil, the Palakkad assembly constituency will go to a by-election. Shafi said that he is sure that the Congress will retain Palakkad. Palakkad is an assembly constituency which stood by the UDF in the last three assembly elections. While the BJP fielded metroman E Sreedharan in Palakkad in the last election, Shafi won by a margin of 3858 votes. The names of former Thrithala MLA VT Balram and Youth Congress state president Rahul Mamkoothill are being considered as Shafi's replacement in Palakkad.

Meanwhile, reports are claiming the Congress is also considering K Muraleedharan in Palakkad. Murali had come down heavily on the party leadership following his defeat in Thrissur. The party leadership is trying to cool Murali down by giving him a seat either in the Wayanad by-election or the Palakkad by-election.