Campaigning ends in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: Campaigning for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections came to an end on Tuesday at 5pm ahead of the November 27 poll for 230 seats.

Leaders of several parties tried their best to win the hearts and minds of an electorate of over 35 million, bringing in film actors and actresses, to provide support to candidates and attract the masses.

Both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition - the Congress - brought their top leaders and star campaigners to lure the voters.

The BJP focussed on the issue of development, giving cheaper basic foodstuffs, cheaper loans to farmers and welfare schemes for girl children.

Issues

The Congress concentrated on allegations of corruption, and the failure of the government to utilise funds given to the state.

The smaller parties such as Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party, Uma Bharti's Bharatiya Jan Shakti Party (BJSP) and the rebels of BJP and Congress have complicated the political race in many constituencies.

The BJP leaders left no stone unturned to score a point on the issue of development. While its central leaders spoke at length over the last three days on the arrest of Sadhvi Pragnya for her alleged involvement in the Malegaon blasts.

They accused the Congress-led government and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra of humiliating spiritual figures like the Sadhvi and demeaning Army jawans for their alleged involvement in terror-related incidents.

Issues such corruption, development, erratic power and water supply as well as the breach of promises made by the BJP in the run-up to 2003 state polls were the main issues politicised by the Congress.