Kochi, Feb 14: Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi will arrive here this evening on a two-day visit.

This is Sonia’s first visit after former Chief Minister and veteran leader K Karunakaran returned to the Congress Party.

After her arrival, she will address a meeting of ‘Pulayar Mahasabha’.

On Friday, she will inaugurate a Research Centre of Santhi Giri Ashram at Pothenkode near here.

The UPA Chairperson will also visit the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology at Poojappura in Thiruvananthapuram. The premier biotechnology institute was taken over by the Centre early last year.

According to sources, she is also scheduled to inaugurate a new four-storey office building, named ‘Swathantriya Samara Smriti Bhavan’' of the Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee (DCC) at Palayam.

Sonia will also address a public rally at the Central Stadium before leaving for the national capital.

Tight security arrangements have been made in view of her visit. Sleuths from Special Protection Group (SPG), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and RAW has already been deployed. (ANI)