Shafi Parambil already sure of Rahul's victory; Congress workers start early celebration using blue trolley bag

PALAKKAD: With just the first phase of counting ongoing in Palakkad, former MLA of the constituency MP Shafi Parambil has shared a photo of his best pal UDF candidate Rahul Mamkootathil on his Facebook page. Shafi shared a photo of him along with Rahul and MP V K Sreekandan. With just the counting ongoing in the fifth round, Rahul has been able to make serious inroads and even create an upset in BJP strongholds.

The UDF is hoping that Rahul, who succeeded Shafi, will register a thumping victory than what Shafi got in the 2021 elections. Meanwhile, congress defector P Sarin has failed to make an impact in the elections and even faltered in roping votes from the Congress party.

Though the BJP got a lead of 1057 votes in the first round, Congress fought back astonishingly, taking a lead of 1418 votes when the counting finished in the fourth round.

UDF is unperturbed and is banking on Pirayiri panchayat to give them the necessary booster to settle the deal in the constituency. In 2021, Shafi took a lead of 6000 votes from Pirayiri. Meanwhile, some sections of UDF candidates already hit the streets in celebration using the blue trolley bag. With allegations of illegal money deals, the trolley bag controversy gained headlines in Palakkad during the campaigning time.