Shafi Parambil, Congress' 'Reluctant' Candidate From Vadakara (Facebook image@Shafi Parambil)
Before unexpected twists thwarted Congress with Pathmaja Venugopal joining BJP, the question on who will the party field from Vadakara constituency lurked. It was K Muralidharan, the party first decided to field from the constituency to contest against CPM stalwart KK Shailaja, the former health minister of Kerala. But when Pathmaja joined BJP, Muralidharan was given ticket from Trissur, which was a strong hold of both Padmaja and Muralidharan’s father K Karunakaran.
Congress then decided to field Shafi Parambil from Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency. The move is said to be a tactic to ease the miffed Muslim community in the region, for the denial of one extra seat for the IUML (Indian Union Muslim League). Shafi is the only Muslim candidate of Congress in the list announced.
After the initial indecision from IUML, it finally accepted Shafi’s candidature. IUML leader from Nadapuram said, “he is the best alternative for the Congress if Muralidharan is not contesting. Shafi is young and can lure the votes of the new generation”.
Reports suggest that Shafi, a three-time MLA from Palakkad was reluctant in the beginning to contest in the general election, and was persuaded by party central leadership. After the candidate list was announced, Shafi said his personal choices are not important in reh crucial election.
It is alleged that the UDF workers are upset about Congress fielding Shafi, the current MLA of Palakkad from Vadakara. The question about whether Shafi will be able to defeat KK Shailaja, who is well known even among the children of Vadakara is high. However, CPM is not taking Shafi lightly.
Hailed from Palakkad’s Karakkad, Shafi joined politics as a student. He was member of Kerala Students Union. He was thrice elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 2011, 2016, and 2019. He was also the president on Indian Youth Congress. Shafi defeating E. Sreedharan of BJP by the margin of 3480 votes during the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly.
If Shafi has to resign from Palakkad due to his candidacy from Vadakara, that is seen as a high stake for Congress in Palakkad, as BJP will seize the opportunity to contest from there. BJP has pushed LDF to the third and secured second position during the 2012 assembly election.
