Sonia Gandhi to start Lok Sabha campaign in Kerala on Saturday

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will kickstart the election campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls of the Congress-led UDF in Kochi on Saturday.

Addressing his first press conference after taking over as president of the Congress in the state, VM Sudheeran said his first priority would be to see that his party was battle ready for the Lok Sabha polls.

"My first programme will be a special convention to be addressed by Sonia Gandhi Saturday. It will mark the launch of our Lok Sabha campaign," the 65-year-old said.

Sudheeran has succeeded Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who headed the Congress in Kerala for close to nine years.