Monday, January 31 2005 16:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chandigarh/Patna/Ranchi: The blare of loud speakers and movement of cavalcades of political parties would come to a halt tomorrow (Feb 1, 2005) evening in Haryana, where campaigning would end for the single phase elections and for the first phase in Bihar and Jharkhand.

Haryana will virtually witness a straight contest between the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Opposition Congress.

Other contestants might play a spoilsport in few Assembly segments during the one-day polling for the 90-member Haryana State Assembly on February 3.

BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), which in 2000 had contested the polls in alliance with the INLD, is contesting on its own, but its candidates appear to be no match for the nominees of the two main parties.

The appears to be true for the BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party), also contesting on its own, whose nominees seem have no significant background.

In Haryana, 983 candidates are in the fray in 90 Assembly constituencies, while 826 nominees are trying their luck in 64 of the 243 constituencies of Bihar, in the first phase of polling on Thursday (Feb 3, 2005).

In Jharkhand, 402 candidates are in the fray for 24 of the total 81 Assembly seats which go for polls in the first phase on Thursday.

Elaborate security arrangements are in place in the three States for peaceful conduct of polls.

Several national leaders, including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP president L K Advani, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) chief Laloo Prasad Yadav took part in campaigning for the polls in Bihar, Haryana and Jharkhand.