PALAKKAD: With Rahul Mamkoottathil winning by a historic majority, Shafi Parambil has emerged as the strongest of the new generation leaders of the Congress.

Rahul Mamkoottathil became the candidate from Palakkad despite the opposition of local Congress leaders. The Palakkad DCC had requested the leadership to field senior leader K. Muraleedharan as the candidate. However, the Congress leadership had to implement Shafi's suggestion to field Rahul Mamkoottathil as his successor. Dr Sarin, who left the Congress in protest against Rahul's candidature, had become a matter of pride for Shafi after Sarin became the LDF candidate. Another Congress leader, A K Shanib, also left the Congress. Rahul Mamkoottathil won by a majority of 18,840 votes, despite all such opposition.

In the parliamentary elections, Shafi had already made a condition when he was sent to Vadakara to face LDF's K K Shailaja. The demand was that the candidate of his choice should be made the candidate in the Palakkad by-election that would be held if he won in Vadakara. The leadership had agreed to it.

The Palakkad by-election was not easy for Shafi and Rahul. Along with the challenges faced within the party, they also had to face controversies that arose throughout the by-election. Shafi also worked in the ranks for BJP leader Sandeep Varier to join the Congress. Finally, Shafi is becoming a kingmaker in Palakkad.