Palakkad: Mahila Congress leader Shanimol Usman will be the UDF candidate for the Ottappalam Assembly seat.
Palakkad DCC has given its green-signal to her candidature in the constituency. The central leadership of the Congress is also in favour of Shanimol.
Though Shantha Jayaram was to have contested from Ottappalam as per the list approved by AICC, she was replaced following a virtual revolt in the local unit against fielding her in Ottapalam.
Shantha has, however, expressed her displeasure over the decision as she had already started campaigning in the constituency.
She had lost to K S Saleekha of the CPM by a margin of 13,493 votes in the previous Assembly polls.