Shimla, Oct 7 (UNI) AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday kicked off Congress' election campaign after attending a rally at Padal ground of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. Mr Gandhi arrived in Mandi about 1200 hrs by a Helicopter where he was welcomed by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Himachal Congress president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, former HPCC president and Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, member of cabinet and party legislators. Mr Gandhi was accompanied by former Union Minister Anand Sharma, state inchrage and former union minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and party state co-incharge Ranjeet Ranjan and number of other senior leaders. It is the second rally of Mr Gandhi before assembly elections. Before this a rally was held on December 24, 2016 at Police Ground Dharmshala. Addressing Saturday's rally, Mr Virbhadra Singh said Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Mr Gandhi has lost their entire family for the cause of country. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not make any impact to change the life of people in the country and the state as three big rallies have been organised in the state in last six month. He said the Congress would repeat the result in the upcoming assembly elections as people became aware of the Mr Modi "anti-people and misleading tactics. Mr Thakur said Mr Gandhi's arrival in the state to begin the party election campaign drawn massive attraction. He said the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of AIIMS at Bilaspur on October 3 was sanctioned by the previous UPA government for which people of the state would express gratitude to Mr Gandhi and former Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad. Lashing out the Union Government, Ms Viplav Thakur said people of Himachal would understand the complete lie of Mr Modi to bring the change in the life of common man. People understand that they are being cheated. UNI ML KS SW 1441