New Delhi, February 23
Campaigning for the Assembly poll in Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya and byelection in eight Assembly constituencies spread over seven states ends tomorrow with senior leaders of the political parties making last-ditch efforts to woo the voters.

Chief Ministers Prem Kumar Dhumal, S C Jamir, Flinder Anderson Khonglam and Manik Sarkar and HVC supremo Sukh Ram are among 1,203 candidates in the fray.

Polling will be held for 65 Assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh and 60 each in three North-Eastern states on February 26.

The Election Commission has decided to postpone election to three Assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh (Kinnaur, Bharmaur and Lahaul and Spiti) to June 8 in view of inclement weather conditions in these areas.

Counting of ballots will be held on March 1.

The term of the present Assembly in Himachal Pradesh was due to expire on March 11, Meghalaya on March 8 and Nagaland and Tripura on March 22.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee addressed four public meetings in Himachal Pradesh while Congress President Sonia Gandhi addressed five. Mrs Gandhi is campaigning in Tripura today.

Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, BJP General Secretary Pramod Mahajan also addressed election rallies in Himachal Pradesh. Congress Chief Ministers of Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh campaigned for the party candidates in the state.

Naga issue dominated the campaigning by major political parties in Nagaland.

In Meghalaya, the main contest is between the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party.

Corner meetings and rallies are being addressed by state and national leaders of the different political parties in Tripura.