The nearly one month long campaigning by political parties for the April 18 elections in the union territory for the lone Lok Sabha seat and the by election to Thattanchavady assembly here ended at 6 PM today. Leaders of various political parties, including from neighbouring Tamil Nadu had campaigned in Puducherry in support of their respective front's candidates for nearly a month.

Local leaders and others attached to the DMK led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) had attacked not only the BJP led NDA, AINRC and AIADMK, but also Lt Governor Kiran Bedi "for putting obstacles in the implementation of welfare schemes." The poll is for all practical purposes a prestige fight between the ruling Congress and opposition AINRC.