CHENNAI: Campaigning for the first phase of the local body elections in the State, scheduled to be held on October 13, came to an end on Wednesday evening.

Elections will be held for four corporations, 45 municipalities, 23 third grade municipalities, 281 town panchayats and 195 panchayat unions in the first phase. Chennai Corporation will also go to polls in the first phase.

Campaigning reached a high pitch on the last day with leaders of major political parties wooing the electorate to vote for their parties. While Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who is also the president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, rounded off his campaign at Salem Corporation, All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa, along with her alliance partner Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko, ended her campaign at Coimbatore.

Congress campaign

Though there is a lot of confusion in the selection of candidates, it was not reflected in the campaigning of Congress leaders. Union Ministers belonging to the party and State leaders undertook a whirlwind tour to mobilise support for their party candidates and nominees of constituent parties. Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Union Minister of State G.K. Vasan, and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president M. Krishnasswamy were among the major campaigners of the party. Mr. Vasan, who toured South Chennai on Tuesday, completed the campaign in Central Chennai in the evening.

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam founder-president Vijayakant was the major campaigner for his party.

According to a State Election Commission official, everything is ready for the first phase.

Election materials, including ballot papers, ballot boxes, and indelible ink are being moved to poling centres. Election observers and local district election officers are monitoring the process.

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