This Article is From Oct 14, 2014

Campaigning For Assembly Polls in Haryana, Maharashtra Ends

Campaigning For Assembly Polls in Haryana, Maharashtra Ends

PM Modi addressing an election rally in Baramati (Press Trust of India photo)

New Delhi: The high-voltage campaign for the October 15 Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra came to an end this evening, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapping up his offensive against the Congress and other rivals, who gave back in equal measure.

The dust and din came to an end at 5 pm. Loudspeakers went silent and political parties asked their cadre to get on with the job of door-to-door campaign for persuading voters. (Also Read: Previous Statistics)

Egged on by the massive mandate the BJP got in the Lok Sabha elections five months ago, PM Modi unleashed a poll blitzkrieg, addressing over 30 rallies in the two states where he took on the opposition over dynastic politics and corruption. (Also read: Know Your Candidate)

With no local face in Maharashtra -- which has 288 seats -- and Haryana, which has 90 seats, the BJP banked heavily on the Prime Minister for campaigning, especially in Maharashtra where it split with its long-term ally, the Shiv Sena. (Also read: Choose Your Constituency: Discuss Your Issues Here)

The October 15 elections for the Maharashtra Assembly will be the first in over quarter of a century when major political parties are out in the poll arena sans erstwhile alliance partners.

The Congress projected former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. The NCP banked on Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena -- party chief Uddhav Thackeray.

The counting of votes will be taken up on Sunday.
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