Disenchanted with frequent polls, voters are a reluctant lot this time and many are critical of the exercise costing a huge amount of money which could have been put to better use.

Aware of the voter's mood, leaders of contending political parties are busy more in running down one another for imposing an early election than debating issues or dispensing promises. Their common refrain is "vote for stability".

Trinamool Congress and its poll ally BJP made stability their main plank in this election, accusing the Congress and CPI(M) of voting out the Vajpayee government without providing an alternative.

"Misrule" by the Left Front government figured occasionally in the campaign. The Kargil issue has taken a back seat although speakers made casual reference.

Keeping pacewith the time, CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress launched their websites to reach more people.

Apart from the traditional way of campaigning, political parties took the help of audio and video cassettes. Some even printed their election symbols on kites.

The CPI(M) released two audio cassettes each of half-an-hour duration containing the election speeches of chief minister Jyoti Basu and state's home (police) minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya.

Not to be left behind, Trinamool Congress released a video cassette entitled `Ami Mamata Bolchi' (this is Mamata speaking) countering the charges levelled by the Marxists.

In an attempt to improve its fortune which took a beating in the last election, Congress released an audio cassette in which chairman of WBPCC campaign committee Somen Mitra answered some questions relating to party's stand on various issues including the charge of Trinamool Congress that Congress has been reduced to the `B' team of CPI(M).

BJP, an ally of Trinamool Congress, on the otherhand,launched a `jadu rath'' (magic chariot) where a magician showed the achievements of Vajpayee government during its 13-month rule.

Like in the past, poll graffiti came up, but later theyhad to be erased from walls of many public buildings, thanks to tough stand taken by the Election Commission.

Poll observers said that high voltage campaign will beginonce the leaders of various parties started arriving here after the fourth phase of election in other states.

Star campaigners of BJP including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will hold meetings in the 13 constituencies where party candidates are in the fray besides a few constituencies of Trinamool Congress.