On a two-day tour for election campaigning in Kerala, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday interacted with students of the government girls' higher secondary vocational school at Wandoor. He urged girl students to be independent, especially financially and psychologically.

"The most important thing for you is your independence. That you are not dependent and you have to be able to try and survive on your own...that will include financial and psychological independence," Mr Gandhi, who arrived in Wandoor today, said interacting with students of the government girls higher secondary vocational school.

Society does not like girls and women to be independent, the congress leader said.

"So you have an added responsibility of becoming independent and helping other sisters to become so," he said, adding humility and respect for others would help them in good stead.

He said there will be opportunities and disadvantages in life and it was essential that one makes use of the advantages which come their way.

Senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy, leading the 10-member state election panel formed by the AICC, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president, Mullapally Ramachandran and principal partner of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The UDF received, among others, at Karpoori Airport.

Assembly elections in Kerala are likely to be held in April-May.

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