CAMPAIGNING FOR 2ND PHASE IN UP, GOA, U’KHAND ENDS

Panaji/Dehradun/Luc know, Feb. 12: Campaigning came to an end on Saturday for the single-day election in Uttarakhand and Goa, two states known for political volatility where the BJP is attempting to retain power, and for the second phase of Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh on February 14.

While the BJP leaders have been asking voters to again go for a “doubleengine government”, a reference to the same party being in power at the Centre and in the state, to ensure development, Opposition parties like the Congress and the AAP have been targeting the saffron party on issues like price rise, farmers’ protest and alleged divisive agenda.

Polling is scheduled to be held on all the 70 Assembly seats in Uttarkhand and 40 constituencies in Goa, besides 55 seats in Uttar Pradesh, on Monday while the counting of votes will be taken up on March 10.

A host of top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a series of rallies in support of their party candidates as the ban on physical rallies was lifted in a phased manner by the Election Commission’s (EC) from February 1.

Electioneering, which drew to a close at 6 pm in accordance with the EC guidelines, was affected for the most part by Covid-19 restrictions, including a ban on physical rallies, forcing the political parties to confine to virtual rallies and scaled-down door-todoor campaign. On the last day of campaigning, Modi held a rally in Rudrapur.