Goa campaigning ends; Stage set for battle

Panaji, May 31: The hustle and bustle of campaigning for the June 2 elections to the 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly ended this evening, setting the stage for a keen contest between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.

The Congress and the BJP are vying with each other claiming to provide ''stable and progressive'' government with an appeal to give them absolute majority without the need for taking the help of small time parties avoiding horse trading.

With almost a total ban imposed on using banners, posters and other publicity material for the elections, particularly in view of the Goa Public Property Defacement Act, the candidates were forced to go door-to-door for campaigning, besides resorting to advertisements in the newspapers and the local channels.

Some of the newspapers resorted to surrogate ads where advertisements go in the form of news in favour of one or the other candidate. Such ads were earlier published as advertorials and this time that ethical principle was given a go by.

UNI