BJS leader hurt in assault

Vidisha, Oct 23 (UNI) A leader of the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti-founded Bharatiya Jana Shakti (BJS) has been injured here in an assault by hitherto-unidentified persons.

''The attack on Rajesh Rai was the offshoot of festering enmity.

A probe has been ordered but no arrest executed thus far,'' Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar said yesterday.

Meanwhile, BJS leaders alleged that the perpetrators were linked with a certain political party. Ms Bharti and BJS General Secretary Prahlad Patel are expected to arrive soon. Mr Rai is his party's town election incharge.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Rampal Singh -- also the state's Public Health Engineering Minister -- Ms Rajashri Singh (Congress) and Mr Raghunandan Sharma are the key candidates for the October 30 bypoll to the Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency.

UNI XC-AC 1026