In Assam, altogether 498 candidates are left in fray for the second phase of polls in 64 Assembly segments scheduled to be held on 11th of the next month. State Election Department sources informed that 23 candidates withdrew their nominations. 14 districts spread over Central and Lower Assam besides the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) is to be covered in this phase. Meanwhile, the campaign by different political parties for the first phase of elections in 62 constituencies on 4th April reached momentum. ‘With only five days left to decide the fate of 485 contesting candidates in the first phase, all the political parties have intensified their campaigns and poll strategies. While the ruling Congress has taken up permanent peace and development as the main poll agenda, the opposition parties including BJP,AGP and Left Parties have raised the issues of corruption, price rise and good governance in the State in their polls campaigns. All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) released its manifesto today. The party has promised to settle the long-pending infiltration problems in Assam. Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has reached Guwahati on Monday evening. He will address a few election rallies in Silchar and Upper Assam on Tuesday. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, top BJP leaders, including L.K.Advani and Susma Swaraj, Trinmool Congress leader Mamta Banerjee and other senior leaders of most of the national and regional parties are scheduled to launch campaign for their respective party candidates within next few days in the State.