Senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah paid floral tributes at the Smrithi Mandapam of the former ruler of Cochin State, Shakthan Thampuran at Thrissur in Kerala this evening. He also lighted a lamp to mark the occasion.<br />''  <br />'' Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, Kerala Prabhari and former union minister Prakash Javadekar, BJP State President K Surendran and senior party leader Kummanam Rajashekharan were among those present.<br />'' <br />'' Earlier, on his arrival at the Cochin International Airport en route to Thrissur, Amit Shah was welcomed by senior party leaders of the state.<br />'' <br />''Mr Shah is scheduled to address a meeting of the party's office bearers of Thrissur Parliamentary Constituency and a public meeting at the Vadakkumnathan Temple Maidan before leaving for New Delhi. His visit assumes significance in the wake of the forthcoming general elections next year.<br />