Notifications for Vidisha, Malehra bypoll issued

Bhopal, Oct 6 (UNI) The Election Commission today issued notification for the October 30 byelection in Vidisha Lok Sabha and Malehra Assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh.

Ruling BJP, Congress and Uma Bharti-led Bhartiya Jan Shakti, the main contenders, were in the process of finalising candidates as the byelections were considered prestigious at least by BJP and BJS.

No nominations had been filed on the first day, the state election office said.

According to the Commission's notification, nominations could be filed till October 13 and scrutiny of papers will take place next day. October 16 is the last date for withdrawal of nominations. Polling is scheduled on October 30 and counting will take place on November 2.

Vidisha seat, held by Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan for five terms, fell vacant as he resigned upon his election to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly after becoming Chief Minister in November last year. The sprawling rural constituency, having 1480 polling booths, has a total of 13,13,048 electorate.

Malehra in Chhatarpur district in Bundelkhand region is the home turf of fire brand Sadhvi Uma Bharti, who formed BJS after her expulsion from BJP last year for questioning the manner in which Mr Chouhan was elected BJP legislature party leader.

Malehra, having 1,84,384 electorate, is spread over 377 villages and is having as many as 216 polling stations, of which 75 have been declared sensitive.

Both constituencies provided a trial of strength for the main three parties in the wake of Uma Bharti's exit from BJP, which, she claimed, was brought back to power in the state through her strenuous efforts.

Vidisha's 8 assembly segments- Budhni, Sanchi, Udaipura, Bhojpur, Kurwai, Basoda, Vidisha and Shamshabad- are spread over in four districts of Sehore, Raisen, Vidisha and Hoshangabad.

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