Uma locks horn with BJP in MP bypoll

Bhopal, Oct 28 (UNI) Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the October 30 byelections in Vidisha Lok Sabha and Malehra Assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, where campaigning came to an end this evening.

Twelve companies of CRPF would be deployed in Vidisha, while 3 companies each of CRPF and Special Armed Force would be deployed in Malehra in Chhatarpur district, official sources said.

Less than six months after its formation, Uma Bharti-led Bharatiya Jan Shakti faces BJP and Congress rivals in both constituencies.

Campaigning was, by and large, peaceful. Backwardness of the state, despite electing high-profile people earlier, remained the main poll plank in both constituencies.

In Vidisha, which fell vacant due to the resignation by Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan after becoming Chief Minister, BJS state unit President Raghunandan Sharma is locked in a 10-cornered contest with State Minister and BJP candidate Rampal Singh and Congress nominee Ms Rajshri Singh as his main rivals.

On the other hand, BJP nominee Kapoor Chand Ghuwara is facing rough weather in the Assembly byelection in Malehra in Chhatarpur district in a 22-cornered contest with BJS candidate Ms Rekha Yadav and Congress nominee Jagdish Shukla being main rivals.

Mr Ghuwara, a former CPI MLA, joined BJP recently after being in the Congress for some time.

Malehra seat, which fell vacant due to the resignation by Ms Bharti, has the dubious status of not re-electing a candidate and people are watching whether history will repeat this time also.

Samajwadi Party has fielded Munawwar Salim from Vidisha and Surendra Singh Yadav in Malehra, where as CPI nominee Sukhlal Joshi is also in the fray.

Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, joined the campaign trail at its fag end, while the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues were managing the campaign so far. BJP chief Rajnath Singh and Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh were other leading campaigners for their respective parties.

Union Ministers Arjun Singh and Suresh Pachouri and Congress General Secretary V Narayanasami also hit the campaign trail.

In Yadav and Lodhi-dominated Malehra in Bundelkhand region, a total of 1.84 lakh voters, including about 85,000 women, were listed to exercise franchise in 218 booths, of which 75 were declared sensitive.

In Vidisha, spread over in Raisen, Vidisha and Sehore districts, 13.15 lakh electorate was scheduled to exercise franchise in 1480 booths.

Counting of votes will take place at the district headquarters on November 2.

UNI Team SP VA MIR BST1349