The state witnessed heavy canvassing by top leaders of the main political parties -- the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party -- though the Samjhauta Express blasts seemed to have overshadowed local issues on the last day, bringing into the spotlight national security.
The Bajpur constituency election was countermanded following the death of Congress candidate Janak Raj Sharma in a road accident last night, leaving 69 seats for the contest at the hustings on Wednesday.
Nearly 60 lakh voters will decide the fate of about 800 candidates in the elections where the Congress and BJP have refrained from naming chief ministerial hopefuls. While Chief Minister N D Tiwari has decided not to contest stating that he was not eager to continue in office, state party president and his bete-noire Harish Rawat is also not in the fray this time around.
Senior BJP leader B C Khanduri is also not contesting though there are indications he is in the running for the Chief Minister's post in case the party comes to power. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, in an impromptu trip, addressed a public rally in the holy Uttarkashi town.
She had addressed a series of public meetings in both Kumaon and Garhwal regions yesterday. Gandi condemned the blasts stating that such incidents will not be tolerated in the country.
Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who also addressed a rally in Garhwal, the state's nerve centre, accused the Centre of not showing any seriousness toward tackling terrorist activities.
While Congress and BJP are locked in a straight fight in most of the seats, other parties like Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, BSP, SP and NCP are too trying their luck at the hustings. Elections in Laxman Chowk will be keenly watched with BJP leader and the state's first chief minister Nityanand Swami crossing swords with sitting Congress MLA Dinesh Agarwal.
In Haldwani, Information Minister Indira Hridayesh, believed to be "No 2" in the cabinet, is locked in an intense battle with BJP candidate Bansi Dhar Bhagat. Uttarakhand BJP president and former chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari is contesting from Kapkot seat.
Besides Bollywood stars like Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha and Smriti Irani, top garhwali singers like Narendra Singh Negi added glamour to the campaign. BJP launched as SMS-blitz on the last day, sending messages to electorates on mobile phones. The counting of votes will take on Februay 27.
