Campaign to heat up in Puducherry over next four days

Campaigning will reach its crescendo over the next four days for the April 9 Assembly election in Puducherry.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah of the BJP, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of the DMK, Congress president Mallikarjun  Kharge, BJP president Nitin Nabin, and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam  president C. Joseph Vijay are among the top leaders who will hit the campaign trail from Saturday.

Mr. Vijay will address street-corner meetings at Kokkupark,  Venkatasubba Reddiar Statue, Thavalakuppam, and Koodapakkam on Saturday. He has been given permission to campaign for his party candidates till 1 p.m., the police said. The same evening, Mr. Kharge will address a public meeting on East Coast Road near Latha Steel Junction. Also on the day, former BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai will hold a roadshow at Ossudu, Mudaliarpet, Ariankuppam, and Manavely.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami will address street-corner meetings to gather support for the NDA candidates on Sunday. Mr. Nabin and BJP Tamil Nadu vice-president Khushbu Sundar will take part at a public meeting at Manavely, also on Sunday.

There will be a high-voltage campaign on Monday by Mr. Amit Shah, Mr. Stalin, and VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan.

While Mr. Shah will address a public meeting at Thirukkanur in the Mannadipet constituency where the BJP has fielded Home Minister A. Namassivayam, Mr. Stalin and Mr. Thirumavalavan will address separate public meetings in the town.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi is likely to make a short visit to Puducherry for campaigning on Monday.

Union Minister and former BJP national president J.P. Nadda and Mr. Annamalai will campaign for the BJP candidates on the last day for campaigning on Tuesday.