The campaign for the first phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal came to an end at 5 pm Saturday with political parties making a last minute bid to woo voters.

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Altogether 45 constituencies in three Maoist-hit districts -- West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia -- would go
to the polls in the first phase on April 17.

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With the Election Commission imposing various restrictions, including ban on poll graffiti and hoardings, the campaign all along remained low-key.

Political parties were allowed to use loudspeakers only on April 13 after the completion of the HSC examinations.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Trinamool Congress chief Mamta Banerjee were the star campaigners for their respective fronts.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi mainly steered the poll campaign of the Congress, while BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley was the main campaigner for the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is the electoral ally of TC.

The Maoist threat in the three districts also figured during the poll campaign with the chief minister expressing resolve to firmly deal with them for unleashing violence.