KOZHIKODE: Congress president Rahul Gandhi will today file his nomination from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat at around 11.30 AM. He is contesting from Wayanad in addition to his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. Gandhi's sister and AICC in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also arrived on Wednesday evening and is expected to accompany her brother to Wayanad.

On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi arrived at Karipur Airport around 9.30 PM to a tumultuous welcome by hundreds of party workers. Priyanka, who came separately, reached shortly before her brother arrived.

Party members said, "The Congress chief will embark on a massive road show at around 9.30 AM before filing the nomination papers".

On his arrival in Kerala, a large number of young party workers holding Congress and ally Indian Union Muslim League flags were seen lustily cheering as Rahul Gandhi came out of the airport. He waved at them. The Congress chief was received by Chennithala, Oommen Chandy, Mullappally Ramachandran, IUML leaders P K Kunhalikutty and ET Muhammed Basheer and others.

Wasnik claimed the announcement of Gandhi's candidature in Wayanad has enthused the people of the constituency and made a major difference in other states, including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Earlier, sources said the Congress chief would board a helicopter to Wayanad, about 90 km from here, to file his nomination. Tight security is in place in Kozhikode and Wayanad districts in view of the high-profile visits.

The Congress announced on Sunday that Gandhi would contest from Wayanad constituency, besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi. Gandhi has claimed that the people in South India "feel hostility" from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he decided to contest from Wayanad to send out the message that he stands with them.

The party will today release its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls at various state capitals. Party spokespersons will release the manifesto at the state headquarters and list out the key points in the document. The aim is to reach out to the grassroots level and ensure that the message of the party reaches the people on the street and the hinterland.

As part of its campaign, top party spokespersons will address the media at 22 places on Thursday with Anand Sharma in Mumbai, Kapil Sibal in Bengaluru, Sharmishtha Mukherjee in Chennai and Pawan Khera in Kolkata.

(agency inputs)