Campaigning for the second phase of assembly polls in Kerala, covering 66 segments in six central northern districts, ended on Thursday.

The outcome in the area, stretching from the state's business hub Kochi to the hilly farmlands of Wayanad, is crucial for the Congress-led United Democratic Front and Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front.

V S Achuthanandan, opposition leader and LDF's chief ministerial probable, and all top leaders of the UDF's major partner Indian Union Muslim League, including state secretary P K Kunhalikutty, and the party's four ministers in the Oommen Chandy cabinet are seeking re-election from the region.

Major Congress nominees in the fray include Assembly Speaker Therambil Ramakrishnan (Thrissur), UDF convener P P Thankachan (Perumbavur) and Electricity Minister Aryadan Muhammad (Nilambur).

• Rice, liquor, notes, votes

Prominent LDF aspirants include the front convener Paloli Muhammadkutty (Ponnani), former LDF convener M M Lawrence (Ernakulam), senior CITU leader P K Raveendranath (Trippunithura) and CPI leader in the outgoing assembly K Rajendran (Kodungallur).

K Karunakaran's Democratic Indira Congress-Karunakaran, which had struck an alliance with the UDF, has put up most of is candidates in the region, including the senior leader's son K Muraleedharan in Koduvally.

BJP too has its best hope in the area in its senior leader O Rajagopal making a bid from his hometown Palakkad to break the party's electoral jinx in the state. The third and final phase of polls will be held in Kannur and Kasargod districts on May 3.

Complete coverage: Kerala Assembly elections