Multi-cornered contests in Vidisha, Malehra

Bhopal, Oct 13 (UNI) Vidisha Lok Sabha and Malehra Assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh figuring in October 30 by-election are facing multi-cornered contest as filing of nominations came to a close today.

A total of 18 candidates have filed nominations in Vidisha and 28 in Malehra, the election office said.

State PHE Minister and BJP nominee Rampal Singh today filed his nomination for the Vidisha seat, which fell vacant after Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan resigned on his election to the Assembly after becoming Chief Minister in November last year.

Mr Chouhan and his cabinet collagues, state BJP chief Satyanarayan Jatia and former chief ministers Kailash Joshi and Sunderlal Patwa were among those present.

Mrs Rajshree Singh (Cong), Mr Raghunandan Sharma (Bhartiya Jan Shakti), Mr Munnawar Salim (Samajwadi Party) and Gondwana Gantantra Party candidate Ajay Singh Kirar had already filed their papers.

In Malehra constituency in Chhatarpur district, which fell vacant on the resignation by Ms Uma Bharti on 'moral ground' after her expulsion from BJP, the ruling BJP has fielded a political turncoat Kapoor Chand Ghuwara. A former CPI MLA, Mr Ghuwara had joined BJP recently after quitting Congress.

Mr Jagdish Shukla(Congress), Ms Rekha Yadav (BJS), Mr Sukhlal Joshi(CPI) and Mahesh Chandra Kushwaha (Rashtriya Samanata Dal) were also the prominent candidates from Malehra.

The byelection for both seats is considered a litmus test for the Ms Uma Bharti-led BJS, which is contesting election for the first time.

BJP, Congress and BJS were considered main contenders in both constituencies.

UNI Team-SP 1716