NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister addressed first public meeting in Thrissur where he said the new year will mark beginning of new politics in Kerala. 

The PM said that bullet train service which is being implemented in western India would soon become a reality in South India. "Once the NDA government comes back to power for a third time, it will commence survey work for ensuring bullet trains in north, east and south India similar to the  bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

The PM said that Congress governments in the past had portrayed India as a weak country. He said today when an Indian goes abroad, he is treated with respect. "Today's India has the power to rescue its citizens trapped in war. Today's India does not look towards other countries in an epidemic like COVID-19. We make indigenous vaccines. Along with our country, we also help other countries of the world," the PM said.

The PM will also address a meeting in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram. This is PM Modi’s sixth visit to the state this year. After the meetings in Kerala, the PM will head to Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu for Lok Sabha campaign. 

The Election Commission of India said on Monday that it was on track for the highest ever seizures of inducements in the 75-year history of Lok Sabha elections in the country. Enforcement Agencies have made a record seizure of over ₹4,650 crores even before the first phase of polling for the 18th Lok Sabha elections commences on Friday, the poll panel said. Each day about ₹ 100 Crore have been seized since March 1, the poll panel said. 

Among other leaders, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah also addressed public rally in Kumarghat of Tripura as part of BJP’s poll campaign. Later, the Home Minister will head to Hapta Kangjeibung in Imphal, Manipur to attend a public meeting, Also, BJP national president JP Nadda is in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand for public meeting while Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is in Jammu and Kashmir.