Bhubaneswar, Sept 17: A high-voltage campaign launched by different political parties---particularly the ruling BJD and BJP---for the September 19 civic polls in 96 urban local bodies came to an end this afternoon. Electioneering reached a crescendo in the two biggest cities of the state---the capital Bhubaneswar and millennium city Cuttack---with the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik undertaking whistle-stop tours of different wards in support of BJD candidates.

Altogether 6,236 candidates are contesting the civic elections from 1,629 wards in the 96 urban bodies in the state.

As no agreement could be reached between the coalition partners, BJD and BJP, both the parties are locked in "friendly fight" in most of the towns and cities, including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

When BJD and BJP failed to reach any agreement on seat-sharing, it was generally felt that it had provided the opposition Congress with a head start. But the Congress campaign, led by PCC chief Sarat Patnaik, has remained low-key throughout.

While the Congress has fielded candidates in 1,471 wards, the BJD and BJP have done so in 1,235 and 1,089 wards respectively. There are 1,834 independents in the fray, many of them rebel candidates of the three major parties, who could sway the verdict one way or the other, analysts say.

Bureau Report