Kochi, Thursday, November 05, 2009: The over four week-long vigorous campaigning for the November 7th assembly bypolls in Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Kannur, being seen as the first key test of popularity for major political parties after the Lok Sabha elections, ended today.

As the deadline for the campaign end was about to expire various political parties and candidates were making last ditch efforts to woo the voters ahead of the battle of ballots. According to instructions given by Chief Electoral Officer Nalini Netto, the Union and State ministers and political leaders who have arrived from other places to campaign for the by-election should leave the constituencies by 5 p.m. when the campaign ends.

Meanwhile, 170 voting machines needed for the by-election were made ready and shifted to the strong room on Wednesday. Of this, 137 would be used in election booths, the rest being kept in reserve.

These voting machines, kept under heavy security, would be handed over to the polling officials on Friday morning. Ballots were also installed in the voting machines at Maharaja’s College under the supervision of returning officer K. N. Ravindran and the assistant returning officer S. Jayalakshmi.

Representatives of the candidates were also present on the occasion. The control units were also attached to the machines.