PM arrives in Kerala for two-day visit

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 1: Prime Minister Manhoman Singh, accompanied by newly-inducted Defence Minister A K Antony, arrived here tonight on a two-day visit to Kerala.

The special aircraft landed at 2140 hrs. Besides Mr Antony, Union Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi also accompanied him.

The Prime Minister was received at the airport by among others, Governor R L Bhatia, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, his Cabinet colleagues, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy, City Mayor Jayan Babu and newly-appointed Chief Secretary Lizzie Jacob. He drove straight to the Raj Bhavan where he will stay overnight.

Tomorrow morning, he will lay the foundation stones for the second terminal of the International Airport and also the Air India Hanger unit.

Later, he will address a convention being organised under the auspicious of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) at the Indira Bhavan here.

In the evening, he is scheduled to inaugurate the 50-day-long golden jubilee celebrations of the formation of Kerala. He will leave for Delhi later in the evening.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the city and surrounding areas as part of the Prime Minister's visit.

Though the police solved the recent e-mail threat to the Prime Minister with the arrest of a youth, all precautionary measures had been taken.

UNI