M A I N   N E W S

Campaign din ends in Haryana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 1
The proverbial din, if there was any, courtesy stringent restrictions imposed by the Election Commission, for the Haryana Assembly elections ended at 5 p.m. today. The state will go to the polls on February 3.

However, candidates will continue to canvass door-to-door in the last minute-bid to woo voters.

Though there are three contenders (the Indian National Lok Dal, the Congress and the BJP) for power in the state, the main battle is between the ruling party and the Congress.

The BJP, which is going alone this time, brought a battery of its leaders, including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and party President L.K. Advani, to the state to campaign for its candidates.

On behalf of the Congress, Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed several rallies.

The INLD mainly depended upon its chief, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, who was helped by his sons, Ajay and Abhay.

From outside the state the party could garner the support of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, son of former Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, and SGPC President Jagir Kaur.

Former Chief Minister Bansi Lal, however, campaigned for his son, Surender from Tosham as well as for other Congress nominees in Bhiwani district.

Over 1.27 crore voters would exercise their right to franchise on February 23.