Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who arrived here on Tuesday evening to launch the party’s campaign for the Lok Sabha polls on Wednesday, visited the martyrs’ memorial and the women’s market.

He landed at Imphal airport around 4.45pm from Itanagar, where he addressed a rally.

After reaching here, he paid floral tribute to the Anglo-Manipuri war heroes at Shaheed Minar, adjacent to the Congress Bhawan.

He also visited the ima market (women’s market) where he was received with garlands. “We warmly received him (Rahul) as he visited our market where the buildings were inaugurated by his mother Sonia,” women vendor Kh. Mangi said.

“We welcome anyone who loves us and remembers us,” she added.

The Congress office and its surrounding streets were filled with party supporters who all came to welcome Rahul.

The Congress president held a meeting with state leaders in the evening.

On Wednesday, ahead of the rally at Hapta Kangjeibung, Rahul will interact with students at the Manipur State Film Development Society auditorium.

Earlier, Congress Legislature Party leader and former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and PCC president and former deputy chief minister Gaikhangam inspected the arrangements at the venue.

“Manipur and the rest of the Northeast are of concern to the Nehru-Gandhi family and they have always responded to the request of the people to visit the region. The public rally will end around 1pm,” Ibobi Singh said.

He said Rahul will address on national, international, regional and Manipur’s issues. He appealed to the people to attend the rally in large numbers.

Gaikhangam said, “People keep saying if the BJP continues to govern, the nation will be ruined. So I think the BJP will hardly win 200 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. The dream of the BJP to win more than 300 seats is absurd.”