(Embargo: for Publication/brodcasting after 1700 hrs)

Pondicherry, May 1 (UNI) Electioneering for assembly polls in Mahe, Palloor and Yanam constituencies in the Union Territory of Pondicherry came to a close today.

These constituencies go to polls on May 3 in the first phase, which will decide the fate of 19 candidates, including the Health Minister E Valsaraj and Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister A V Sreedharan.

With the strict enforcement of the model code of conduct for elections by the Election Commission, the campaigning was peaceful and lacklusture.

The ruling Congress party had renominated sitting members E Valsaraj and A V Sreedharan for Mahe and Palloor constituencies respectively and the sitting Independent Member Malladi Krishna Rao, who recently joined the Congress for Yanam constituency.

With the renomination of the sitting members, the election plank was mainly development of the constituencies, while the opposition highlighted the corruptions in several departments of the administration.

Mr Valsaraj and Sreedharan are locked in a four cornered contest in Mahe and Palloor respectively, where the CPI(M) candidates are their immediate rivals, while in Yanam, Mr Rao is pitted in a multi-cornered contest and is facing a stiff challenge from a rebel Congress candidate Raksha Harikrishna, contesting as an Independent.

Both Mahe and Yanam regions are observing dry days for three days from today.

All arrangements for the polling had been completed and the electronic voting machines (EVM) are kept ready. Adequate security arrangements were being made with the deployment of para-military forces, personnel of Indian Reserve Battalion and local police.

For the first time Yanam has been declared sensitive and extra security was being provided.

As many as 12,663 electorates in Mahe, 14,363 in Palloor and 18,739 in Yanam, will decide the fate of the 19 candidates on May 3.

Twenty one constituencies in Pondicherry region and Six in Karaikal goes to polls in the second phase on May 8.

UNI PAB VJ RS1413