By IANS,
New Delhi : The terror strike in Mumbai cast its shadow on the last day of campaigning for the Nov 29 Delhi elections Thursday, with the Congress cancelling all its rallies and the Bharatiya Janata Party finding poor turnout at its events.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cancelled his election rally in south Delhi’s Dakshinpuri area following the terror attacks in Mumbai, which left 101 people dead and over 285 injured.
The Congress party cancelled all its scheduled election rallies in the capital as a mark of respect to and solidarity with those killed in Mumbai.
“All the election rallies, including the prime minister’s, were cancelled as this is the time we should stand together with the bereaved families and support the soldiers still fighting to release the hostages,” Delhi Congress chief J.P Aggarwal said.
The party had planned over 50 public meetings in various parts of the capital as its final effort to reach out to the voters.
The BJP stuck to its campaign schedule though the party’s star campaigners Navjot Singh Sidhu and television actress Smriti Irani failed to attract crowds with people remaining indoors, glued to their TV sets to watch the Mumbai terror attack footage.
“We condemn the terror attacks in Mumbai. However, all our public meetings went as per schedule,” said Mewa Ram Arya, Delhi BJP spokesperson.
Polling will be held Saturday to pick a new state assembly, with 863 candidates from as many as 69 parties fighting it out. Balloting will be held for 69 seats out of total 70 and the votes will be counted Dec 8.