Thrissur: Congress president Rahul Gandhi has arrived in Kerala to kick-start the party’s Lok Sabha election campaign in the state. He reached Rama Nilayam in Thrissur by 9 pm on Wednesday.
Rahul had earlier landed at Kochi airport, where he was received by district congress committee leaders and members. From the airport, he travelled to Thrissur by road.
With uncertainty prevailing over the party candidates in Kerala, discussions are underway at Rama Nilayam. Among those who reached Rama Nilayam on Wednesday night were KPCC chief Mullappally Ramachandran, AICC general secretaries Oommen Chandy, K C Venugopal and Mukul Wasnik and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala.
Archbishop of Thrissur Andrews Thazhath also called on Rahul at Rama Nilayam. The Archbishop later said that it was only a courtesy call.
On Thursday morning, Rahul will head to Thriprayar to attend the National Fishermen’s Parliament. He is scheduled to fly by helicopter to Kannur by 12.15 pm.
At the Kannur airport’s VIP lounge, Rahul will meet the relatives of Shuhaib, the party worker who was murdered. After a 30-minute meeting with Shuhaib’s kin, the Congress chief will travel to Periya in Kasaragod, again by helicopter. There, Rahul will meet the family members of the two Youth Congress workers who were killed at Kalyott.
Returning to Kannur by helicopter, Rahul is scheduled to fly by a special small aircraft from there to Kozhikode.
Apart from SPG, CISF and the Kerala Police have been assigned the security duties in connection with the Congress president’s visit.
Restrictions have been imposed on visitors. A special helicopter carrying SPG personnel will accompany Rahul during his trip to Kasaragod and back.
