Thiruvananthapuram, 05 April (H.S.):

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge are set to arrive in Kerala today to spearhead the final phase of election campaigning for the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led UDF, respectively, as the Assembly poll race enters its decisive stage.

With just five days left for voters to head to the polling booths, political activity has intensified across the state. The high-voltage campaign will officially conclude on Tuesday, leaving Wednesday for silent canvassing and last-minute voter mobilisation.

Amit Shah is scheduled to address campaign meetings in Kozhikode, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram, where he will also interact with members of the expatriate community. Meanwhile, Kharge will campaign across key constituencies in southern Kerala, including Kottarakkara, Pathanapuram, Chadayamangalam, Punalur, and Kunnathur, seeking support for Congress-led alliance candidates. A major public meeting is slated in Kottarakkara at 4 pm, where Karnataka ministers Priyank Kharge and K.J. George are expected to participate.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will campaign in Thrissur and Palakkad in support of BJP candidates, adding momentum to the NDA’s outreach.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is already in the state, continues to actively engage with voters at the constituency level, strengthening the UDF’s grassroots campaign.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is continuing his campaign in his home constituency of Dharmadam, underscoring the Left Democratic Front’s push in the final stretch.

As the campaign nears its conclusion, all three major fronts—LDF, UDF, and NDA—are making a final push to consolidate voter support ahead of what promises to be a closely fought contest.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman