Ukrainians will go to polls on Sunday to cast their ballots in local and regional elections, widely seen as a test for President Viktor Yanukovych.
The pro-presidential Party of Regions, which has no absolute parliamentary majority, would seek to strengthen its positions across the country. The elections are also seen as a dress rehearsal for the forthcoming parliamentary polls.
Yulia Tymoshenko, the losing candidate in this year's presidential runoff, has already accused the Party of Regions of fraud, saying that fake ballots were printed and her supporters were pressurized to withdraw.
Opposition parties also accused the Party of Regions of using "administrative resources," including plans to take voters to polling stations in state-owned vehicles. There were also reports that state-employed voters were pressurized to vote for Party of Regions' candidates.
Yanukovych dismissed all accusations and pledged that any election fraud would be met with the "utmost severity."
Analysts say that Tymoshenko's Batkyvshchina (Fatherland) party would focus on winning in its traditional strongholds in western and central parts of Ukraine. However, she would face bitter rivalry from the ultra-right nationalist Svoboda Party led by Oleh Tyahnybok.
The main rivals of the Party of Regions would be its parliament coalition allies, Sergey Tigipko's Strong Ukraine Party and the Communist Party of Ukraine.
According to recent media reports, the Party of Regions has the highest average support of 30%, compared with 8% of Tymoshenko's party. Strong Ukraine is forecasted to receive some 7% of the vote, communists and Svoboda Party are thought to garner about 3% each.
All the parties would clash to win over undecided voters, who make up a hefty 20%.
There is no minimum turnout for the election to be considered valid.
KIEV, October 31 (RIA Novosti)
