Sonia to campaign twice in Kerala

New Delhi, Apr 7 (UNI) Congress President Sonia Gandhi will campaign for the candidates of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala for a total of four days in two legs this month.

In the first leg, she will address a few meetings on April 17 and 18 in constituencies going to polls in the first phase on of Assembly Elections April 22.

Her second leg of campaign during April 24-25 will take her to those constituencies where polls are scheduled in the next two phases. The second and third phases of poll in Kerala will be held on April 28 and May three.

Former Kerala minister and Chairman of KPCC media department M M Hassan told mediapersons after his meeting with Ms Gandhi here today that the dates of campaign by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were yet to be finalised.

He claimed that the political situation in the state was favourable to the UDF returning to power.

Mr Hassan said there was no anti-incumbency wave against the UDF.

Asked if the poll ties with the DIC(K) led by veteran leader K Karunakaran would increase the prospects of the ruling coalition in the elections, he replied in the affirmative.

Mr Hassan, who was one of the four sitting MLAs who were denied ticket for the April-May elections, said he would campaign for the party.

He said the leadership had denied him ticket this time apparently to make use of his services in other areas.

Mr Hassan said the main plank of the UDF in the election was political stability to carry on the new development works initiated by the Oommen Chandy government.

The CPI(M), the main political rival to the Congress in Kerala, is anti-development, he alleged.

UNI SH PK PC1655