PALAKKAD: I have never approached a leader so far for a seat, said Rahul Mamkootathil, the UDF candidate of Palakkad. The party demanded me to contest in Palakkad, he said in an interview to a media.

‘Which panel decides the candidate for Congress? It is decided by the screening committee. I am also a member of that screening committee. However, I was in jail when the screening committee met. Shafi Parampil is not in that panel. Then how can one say that this decision was taken by Shafi,' asked Rahul Mamkootathil.

Rahul said the competition is between communalism and secularism. He added that he hoped Sarin to be with him in this race. P V Anvar's candidature has benefited the UDF and we will get the votes of staunch leftists, he said.