Allahabad, February 19
As the campaign for third phase of polling in eastern and some parts of central Uttar Pradesh came to an end today evening, the verdict of this socially backward and economically underdeveloped but politically sensitive electorate will determine the contours of the next government in the state.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who today literally ended his party’s campaign in this historic city, urged the electorate to give a clear verdict in favour of the BJP and its allies so that the Centre and state could march ahead on the road of development.

While Mr Vajpayee’s speech lasting 30 minutes at a well attended rally in K.P. Intermediate College grounds focussed on issues of development, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav’s address at a rally in Hamidia Islamia Inter College grounds, where he came in a helicopter, focussed on issues like SIMI and POTO.

The Prime Minister, in his usual humorous style, asked the youth to prepare themselves for competition and appealed to the farmers to diversify agricultural production by concentrating on vegetable oil producing crops.

Appealing to Muslim voters, Mr Vajpayee said the BJP should be tested on its riot-free track record rather than the allegations of its political adversaries.

The Prime Minister briefly touched upon the issue of terrorism and promised that terrorism would be rooted out from Jammu and Kashmir as was done in Punjab.