20 pc polling in first four hours in Vidisha, Malehra bypolls

Bhopal, Oct 30 (UNI) About 20 per cent of the 13.15 lakh strong electorate exercised their franchise in the first four hours of polling for the by-elections to Vidisha Lok Sabha and Malehra assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, amid tight security, today.

Polling was progressing peacefully at all polling booths in Vidisha and Malehra, Election office sources said.

More than 12 companies of CRPF were deployed in Vidisha, while three companies each of CRPF and SAF were deployed in Malehra.

In Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency, spread over Vidisha, Sehore and Raisen districts, about 19 per cent voters cast their votes till noon in Budhni assembly segment, 17 per cent in three assembly segments in Raisen district and 15 per cent in four assembly segments of Vidisha district.

Meanwhile, Uma Bharti-led Bharatiya Jan Shakti has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission that the workers of ruling BJP were attempting booth capture at Ranital village in Malehra constituency, while BJP workers were trying to ferry voters in private vehicles in Baxwaha area.

The Vidisha seat fell vacant following Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan's resignation after taking over as the Chief Minister, while bypoll in Malehra was necessitated due to resignation by former chief minister Uma Bharti.

(Eds: pick up suitably from earlier series) UNI Team-PS-SP YA DB1330