KASARAGOD: The Kerala Padayatra, led by NDA state chairman and BJP state president K Surendran, which marks the beginning of the Lok Sabha election campaign got off to a flying start. Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant inaugurated the Yatra. Union Minister V Muraleedharan was the chief guest at the event held at Thalipadavu ground, raising the slogan 'Modi Guarantee Puthiya Keralam' (Modi Guarantee New Kerala). Union Minister V Muraleedharan said that National President JP Nadda has skipped the trip to Kasaragod in the context of political developments in Bihar.

Along with criticizing the state government, the political campaign will also emphasize central achievements. The padayatra led by K Surendran is a continuation of the campaign launched by the Prime Minister in Thrissur. NDA State Convener Thushar Vellapally, Vice Chairman PK Krishnadas, BJP National Vice President AP Abdullahkutty, MT Ramesh, Former State Presidents Kummanam Rajasekharan, CK Padmanabhan, Welcome Committee Chairman Sadananda Shetty, JRP State President CK Janu, BJP Kasaragod District President Ravisha Tantri Kundar, V Sudheer, National Council Member Shobha Surendran and Nationalist Kerala Congress State Chairman Kuruvila Mathews. BDJS General Secretaries Arayakandi Santosh, M Jayaprakash, State Vice President Paily Vathiattu, BJP State Secretaries K Ranjith and Adv K Sreekanth spoke.

The yatra passing through 20 Lok Sabha constituencies will end at Palakkad on February 27. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the padayatra in Thiruvananthapuram on February 12.

Yesterday, the first day of the padayatra ended at Melparambu in Kasaragod.