BJP chief Nitin Nabin kicks off election campaign in Thrissur

On his first visit to Kerala after taking charge as BJP national president, Nitin Nabin appears to have struck a chord with the state party leadership, packing symbolism and political messaging into a hectictwo-day schedule that culminated in what was effectively the launch ofthe party's Assembly election campaign.

- AGENCIES

On Saturday, the second day of his visit, Nabin travelled to Kalady, the birthplace of the influential ninth-century philosopher Adi Shankara, where he offered prayers at the temple.

From there, the BJP chief moved swiftly into overt campaign mode.

At Ollurkkara in Thrissur district, he painted a lotus, the party's election symbol, on the wall of polling booth number 163.

Party leaders described the gesture as deliberate and symbolic, signalling the formal commencement of the BJP's ground-level campaign in Kerala.

Thrissur, where the party has been attempting to expand its electoral footprint, was carefully chosen to underline that intent.