From correspondents in Delhi, India, 07:00 PM IST

Campaigning ended Monday in seven states and two union territories that go to the polls in the fifth and final round of the Lok Sabha elections Wednesday.

Union Ministers P. Chidambaram and Mani Shanker Aiyar are among the 1,432 candidates fighting it out in 86 constituencies. There are 10.78 crore eligible voters.

The contestants include Trinamool Congress' Mamata Banerjee, Varun Gandhi of Bharatiya Janata Party, former cricketers Mohammad Azharuddin and Navjyot Singh Sidhu and film star turned politician Vinod Khanna.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, electioneering in Punjab, exuded confidence of the Congress emerging as the single largest party.

BJP's aspirant for the top job L.K. Advani was also in Punjab praising party ally Akali Dal's government in Punjab.

BJP spokesperson Ravi Shanker Prasad told reporters: 'Manmohan Singh looked pessimistic and defeated. The campaign of Congress lacks maturity and no one knows who is saying what. UPA is Ulta Pulta Alliance (topsy turvy).'

(Staff Writer, © IANS)