Chouhan files nomination for assembly bypoll

Bhopal, Apr 4: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today filed his nomination papers for the assembly byelection from Budhni in Sehore district, where polling is scheduled on April 24.

Mr Chouhan, who took over as chief minister on November 28 last year, reached the Sehore collectorate in a procession and filed the papers.

Former Chief Ministers Kailash Joshi, Sunderlal Patwa and Babulal Gaur, state BJP President Satyanarayan Jatia and several state ministers and party functionaries were present.

The Chief Minister also addressed a public meeting at Sehore after filing the nomination.

The Budhni seat fell vacant after BJP leader Rajendra Singh resigned to facilitate Mr Chouhan's entry into the assembly. A Lok Sabha member for five terms, 46-year-old Chouhan still represents Vidisha in the lower house.

Mr Chouhan was elected to the Assembly from Budhni in 1990, but resigned to contest general elections.

The Congress has fielded Mr Raj Kumar Patel, who lost to Mr Singh in the 2003 poll, to take on Mr Chouhan.

Gondwana Gantantra Party candidate Gulzar Singh Markam filed his papers yesterday.

UNI