An Independent candidate campaigns on a bullock cart. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 6: While Pappu Pom Pom, the comedy king of the Odia film industry, was the star campaigner of the BJD, other parties also pulled out all stops to draw the voters’ attention on the last day of campaigning for the municipal corporation polls. A large number of rallies and padyatras were organised on the last day.

Pappu made a whirlwind tour of the Bhubaneswar (central) Assembly constituency and actor Anubhav Mohanty campaigned for the ruling party in the Ekamra Assembly constituency.

With the poll campaign drawing to an end today at 5 pm, all liquor shops have been closed in the city and will remain shut till January 9.

Election officer for the corporation and additional district magistrate Manoj Kumar Patnaik said: “The five observers appointed by the state election commission will be on high alert in sensitive areas and especially the slum pockets around the city to curb the distribution of money. Candidates can still conduct door-ro-door campaigns after today.”

The police have made elaborate security arrangements for January 8 and 9. Polling and counting will be held on these days.

While BJD president Naveen Patnaik visited several wards in the Bhubaneswar (central) Assembly constituency and attracted big crowds at Niladri Vihar in Chandrasekharpur, the two actors, accompanied by BJD MLAs Bhagirathi Badajena, Ashok Kumar Panda and Bijay Kumar Mohanty, toured the wards with the local candidates.

Congress leaders led by Union minister Srikant Jena visited the remaining wards of the three Assembly constituencies. They visited Bamikhal, Chakeisiani, Satya Nagar, Bhimanagi, Malisahi and Saheed Nagar. Former minister Prasad Harichandan also accompanied party candidates.

The last political meeting by the Congress was held at Saheed Nagar where Jena criticised the BJD for misleading people with false propaganda that the Centre is not allocating enough funds for city’s development.

The BJP campaigned with state president K.V. Singhdeo and poll in-charge and former minister Biswa Bhusan Harichandan. State executive member Ratkanta Das also accompanied the party candidates in several wards.

Complaint lodged

BJP candidate from ward No. 45 Sudhansu Kumar Mahunta today lodged a complaint with the municipal poll election officer alleging the construction of a blacktop road in the ward by the BJD in violation of the model code of conduct.

However, the BJD candidate, Amaresh Jena, refuted the charge saying that the work order was issued much before the poll notification.