PALAKKAD: The state Congress leadership is gearing to shift Shafi Parambil from Palakkad to Pattambi due to ongoing issues created by Congress rebels in Palakkad. The move comes in the wake of in party reports which said that the party may lose the seat due to the functioning of rebels in the district. The state leadership has also considered the fact that Shafi doesn’t enjoy the support of workers in the Palakkad Congress.

A V Gopinath, who is considered as the chief rebel of the party in Palakkad, was included in the draft list of Congress candidates from the district. It is also to be noted that the state leadership is currently having a rethink over the seat, due to Gopinath’s rebel activities. Meanwhile, Gopinath has earlier informed that he is not interested in candidature.

The screening committee for the selection of candidates will be held in Delhi today. The central leadership of the party will only prepare the final list only after consulting with MPs from Kerala. Congress MPs from the state have already prepared recommendations to be submitted before the panel.

Adoor Prakash MP intervened for Congress candidate from Konni, Robbin Peter to assuage the resentment and opposition that brewed up against him on the area against his candidature. He also told the state leadership that the party faced heavy backlash during the by-polls in Konni as they ignored his recommendations. Prakash has given his recommendation over Konni seat to the Congress screening panel.

Similarly, T N Pratapan has asked the screening panel to consider Padmaja, daughter of K Karunakaran, to the Thrissur assembly seat. Whereas in Kasargod, MP Rajmohan Unnithan has not recommended anybody so far. Unnithan told the screening committee that Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala will decide the candidates in Kasargod.