Campaign Ends in Three States
Curtains came down on campaign activity in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh ahead of the October 13 Assembly polls in the three states on Sunday.
Several top leaders hit the campaign trail during the four week electioneering that was largely peaceful save for a Naxal ambush in Gadchiroli in Maharashtra on Friday that killed 17 policemen.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi campaigned in the three states where the party is making all-out efforts to retain power.
Senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu were the opposition stalwarts who campaigned vigorously.
In Maharashtra, where the Congress is making all out efforts to retain power with alliance partners NCP, the presence of MNS chief Raj Thackeray added colour to the poll campaign.
In Haryana Congress chances for a second term are seen as bright due to major divisions in the opposition with the BJP calling off its alliance with Om Prakash Chautala’s INLD and the BSP ending its poll truck with the Haryana Janhit Congress.
Congress appears to be on a strong wicket in Arunachal Pradesh where Chief Minister Khandu Dorjee is among three party candidates elected unopposed.
In Maharashtra a total of 7,56,34,525 voters will key in favour for 288 MLAs, In Haryana a 1,20,63,257 electorate will key-in preferences to elect 90 legislators.
In Arunachal Pradesh 7,50,575 voters will exercise franchise to elect 60 representatives.
