Elections 2014: A K Antony kicks off election campaign this week end

Thiruvananthapuram: The national leaders of the Congress and the BJP will reach the state this weekend for campaign. Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu will campaign in Alappuzha, Mavelikara, Attingal and Thiruvananthapuram from March 29.

Mr A. K. Antony will launch his road show from Kasargod on Sunday. The CPM’s top leaders, including party general secretary Prakash Karat and politburo members Sitaram Yechury, Brinda Karat and S. Ramachandran Pillai will campaign from April first week.

Mr Venkaiah Naidu will be one of the first national leaders to come to the state. The BJP state leadership has requested senior BJP leader L. K. Advani and national party president Rajnath Singh to come here and is awaiting their nod.

State BJP president V. Muraleedharan said, “Though these two leaders are contesting, we hope that they will come to the state. Apart from Mr Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj, spokespersons Shahnawaz Hussain, Nirmala Seetharaman and Prakash Javadekar will also be coming here for campaign,” he said.

According to KPCC general secretary Thampanoor Ravi, Mr Antony will kick off his road show on March 30.

“He will campaign in Attingal on April 7 and Thiruvananthapuram on April 8. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s campaign details are yet to be confirmed. They will come separately,” said Mr Ravi.