Campaigning ended this evening for the ninth and final phase of Lok Sabha elections. 41 Constituencies – 17 in West Bengal, 6 in Bihar and 18 in Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi where the contest is between Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal, will go to the polls on Monday in this last phase.
Days after Narendra Modi took on Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, the Congress Vice President today retaliated by campaigning in the temple town of Varanasi, where the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate is in the fray. Donning a Gandhi cap, the 43-year-old leader flanked by Congress candidate Ajay Rai began his roadshow in a Muslim-dominated Gol Gadda area.
He was accompanied by several senior leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad and Rashid Alvi. Large number of people followed him, carrying tricolor party flags and raising slogans. The family members of late shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan played shehnai during Rahul Gandhi's roadshow.
In Uttar Pradesh all major political parties conducted intensive campaigning today on the last day of the electioneering. The polling will be held on Monday. Senior BJP leader Narendra Modi addressed four election rallies at Kushinagar, Deoria, Robertsganj and Ballia .
In his last election rally in Ballia,he sharply criticised the Congress led UPA and Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh. He said his party is committed for good governance. In Varanasi people witnessed three rallies today conducted by the Congress, SP and Aam Aadmi Party to woo voters. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi conducted 10 Kilometres long road show.
He ended his show with garlanding the statue of Madan Mohan Malviya. He was accompanied by several senior leaders and star campaigners including Union Minister Gulam Nabi Azad, Rashid Alvi, Raj Babbar, Pramod Tiwari and Nagma. He was accorded warm welcome at several places on the route.
Large numbers of people were following him carrying tricolour party flags and raising slogans. It was his only campaigning in high profile constituency from where BJP senior leader Narendra Modi is in multi corner contest. Later on he addressed an election rally in Chandauli constituency.
Aam Admi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal also conducted a six hour long road show in Trans Varuna area. Most of the senior leaders of the party including Yogendra Yadav, Sanjay Singh, Rakhi Bidlan, Kumar Vishwas, Zaved Zafri and Gul Panag also participated in the show. Initiating his road show Kejriwal said he is contesting election to fight against corruption. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also conducted a road show in Varanasi.
His show was passed through a shortest route from Maldahiya to Godauliya. Heavy security arrangements were made in the city . Addressing people at the end of his road show he said that his government has implemented all welfare schemes without any discrimination . In Uttar Pradesh, a total of 328 candidates including 14 women are in fray for 18 constituencies that will go to polls in the last phase of elections.
Electoral fate of several political bigwigs will be decided in this phase of elections. They include BJP leader Narendra Modi, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, senior BJP leader Kalraj Mishra Yogi Aditya Nath and Union Minister RPN Singh.
In West Bengal campaigning for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections has come to an end . Elections will be held for 17 Parliamentary seats covering North and South 24 Paraganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, East and West Midnapore and Kolkata on Monday. Over 2 crore 55 lakh 75 thousands electorate will decide the political fate of 188 candidates in seven districts in the state.
In Bihar, though national level leaders are not campaigning today, state level political stalwarts are making last minute efforts to woo the voters. In West Bengal, prominent leaders of all major political parties are now busy with door to door campaigns and road shows.
