The stage is set for tomorrow's assembly polls in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh, the first crucial test of popularity for major political parties after the Lok Sabha polls. <br/><br/>The Election Commission has made elaborate security arrangements with special focus on Naxal-hit areas in Maharashtra to ensure peaceful polling, which will start at 7 AM in all the three states. The EC has deployed as many as 18,000 central police forces in Maharashtra alone to ensure peaceful polling.<br/> <br/>The over four week-long electioneering saw top leaders of Congress, BJP and other major players of regional parties hitting the campaign trail in a big way. While the Congress is in power in Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh, it shares power with Sharad Pawar-led NCP in Maharashtra where the main opposition is in the form of Shiv Sena-BJP alliance.<br/> <br/>In Maharashtra, stakes are high for Congress which is seeking to retain power with its ally NCP for a third consecutive term. The Shiv Sena-BJP combine is also leaving no stone unturned to wrest power in the state, which ousted them ten years ago. <br/><br/>The highest number of 28 candidates is in Aurangabad east constituency in Marathwada while the lowest number of four candidates each is in Dahanu (Thane district) and Islampur (Sangli district) Assembly constituencies. There are 1,820 Independents, mostly rebels in fray. The number of women candidates in 211.<br/> <br/>Among the other prominent candidates are Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar, Deputy Chief Minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, former deputy chief minister R R Patil, Union Energy Minister Sushil Kumar's daughter Pranti Shinde ,late Pramod Mahajan's daughter Poonam Mahajan, BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde's daughter Pankja Palvi and Shiv Sena senior leader Subha Desai .<br/> <br/>In Haryana, prominent among the 1200 candidates include Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Speaker Raghuvir Singh Kadiyan ,INLD President Om Prakash Chautala, Ajay Singh Chutala M.P. and Kuldeep Bishnoi of Haryana Janht Congress.<br/><br/>Out of 13500 polling stations, 2517 have been declared sensitive and 2262 hyper-sensitive. About 6500 police personnel including 60 Companies of Central para-military forces have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls.<br/><br/>In Arunachal Pradesh the ruling Congress has already opened their innings with three uncontested candidates , including Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu from Mukto, first timer Jamber Tashi from Lumla and Tsewang Dhondhup from Tawang constituency, already securing a berth in the Assembly.<br/><br/>Maharashtra has over 7.58 crore eligible voters to elect 288 MLAs, while Haryana has 1.31 crore electors for choosing 90 legislators. Arunachal Pradesh has 7.50 lakh voters who can exercise their franchise to select 60 representatives.Counting of votes will take place on the 22nd of this month.<br/><br/>