Chouhan leads over Cong rival in Budhni

Bhopal, May 6 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan(BJP) has established a lead of more than 21,000 votes over his nearest rival Rajkumar Patel of the Congress after the fifth round of counting of votes polled in the May 3 Assembly byelection in Budhni.

Counting was progressing on the Agriculture College premises in Sehore town. CRPF jawans have been deployed at the counting venue.

Besides Mr Chouhan and Mr Patel, Mr Gulzar Singh Markam of Gondwana Gantantra Party and Mr Narmada Prasad Yadav of Samajwadi Party, besides 12 independents, were in the fray to fill the seat fell vacant after Mr Rajendra Singh(BJP) resigned to pave the way for Mr Chouhan's entry into the Vidhan Sabha.

Altogether 1,12,889 voters, comprising 64.60 percent of the 1.74 lakh electorate, exercised their franchise through EVM in 189 booths.

Mr Chouhan had earler won Budhni seat in 1990 and later quit it to contest the Lok Sabha election. Mr Patel was also elected from there in 1993 and became a state minister.

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