Bangalore:
With just two weeks to go for the Assembly election is Karnataka, senior BJP leaders like L K Advani, Rajnath Singh, Venkaiah Naidu and Sushma Swaraj will launch the party's campaign in the state today. Along with state leaders, the BJP top brass will launch the campaign simultaneously from six places.
While Mr Advani will launch the campaign from Ranebennur and Davangere, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Ms Swaraj, will address a rally in Bangalore today.
Over 3,600 candidates are in the fray for the May 5 assembly elections. Counting of votes will be done on May 8.
The exact number of candidates in the contest for 224 seats of the 225-member assembly that includes one nominated member, would be known today as complete details of withdrawals from across the state were yet to be received.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will also begin campaigning in the state from April 23.
Mrs Gandhi would start campaigning at Chikamagalur on April 25, instead of April 26, as announced earlier. She would also campaign in Mangalore the same day.
Rahul Gandhi will address public meetings in Raichur and Bijapur districts on April 23. He will also hold meetings in Kolar, Tumkur and Haveri districts on April 26. On May 1, Rahul will campaign in Mandya, Hassan and Shimoga districts.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will campaign at Hubli-Dharwad and Bangalore on April 29.