Voters' silence intrigue candidates in MP poll

Bhopal, Nov 24 (UNI) Electioneering in Madhya Pradesh came to a feverish pitch with star campaigners criss-crossing the state to convince the fence sitters as no major issue had propped up during the lacklusture campaign.

By and large, the campaign, which will come to an end tomorrow evening, has progressed peacefully across the state though it could not evoke any wave in favour of any party as the electorate mainly seemed disillusioned.

Ms Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party and Ms Uma Bharti-led Bhartiya Jan Shakti have added to the woes of major players like Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, both of which raised development and corruption as main poll plank.

The stoic silence of the electorate increased the worries of poll managers as public meetings also drew lesser crowd as compared to previous elections. In addition to traditional campaign materials like posters, banners and hoardings, website, mobile phones and portals besides LCD fitted vehicles are also in use.

Presence of rebels as independents or on other party symbols in many constituencies played spoilsport to BJP and Congress.

Senior BJP leaders claim that the BJP would get comfortable majority notwithstanding the anti-incumbency factor at local level.

In 2003, BJP got a record three-fourth majority.

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