Betul bypoll counting begins in MP

Bhopal, Apr 16: Amid tight security, counting for votes polled in the Lok Sabha by-election in Madhya Pradesh's Betul constituency began here today.

Nearly 60.53 per cent of the 11 lakh electorate had exercised their franchise in the by-election held on April 12.

The by-election was held due to the death of sitting BJP member Vijay Khandelwal.

Mr Khandelwal's son Hemant Khandelwal (BJP), Sukhdeo Panse (Congress), Dr Sunilam (Samajwadi Party), Hira Singh Markam (Gondwana Gantantra Party) and Mangal Singh Lokhande (Samajwadi Jan Parishad) were among the twelve candidates in the fray.

The seven independent candidates were: Ashok, Udal Prasad, Prem Kumar, Bhag Charan, Manjit Singh, Mansaram and Rewaram.

Counting of votes polled in the six Assembly segments of Betul district was in progress at the Betul high school, while those polled in Harda and Timarni segments were being counted at the district town of Harda, election office sources said.

UNI