BJS emerges runners-up in Shejwar's den

Raisen, MP, Nov 2 (UNI) The Uma Bharti-founded Bharatiya Jan Shakti (BJS) emerged runners-up in this district's Sanchi, Udaypura and Bhojpur assembly constituencies that come within the limits of Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency whose bypoll result was announced today.

Former state minister and Uma confidante MLA Gaurishankar Shejwar, who was suspended from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for indiscipline, wields influence in this region. Therefore, the BJS taking second spot is a warning for Madhya Pradesh's ruling party.

Right from the initial rounds of counting, the order was BJP, BJS and then the Congress. The principal reason for the saffron party winning by a lesser margin is the BJS cutting into its votebank. The final figures in Sanchi were BJP -- 30,684 votes, BJS -- 26,563 and Cong -- 22,940.

The corresponding figures in Udaypura, which is BJP candidate and Public Health Engineering Minister Rampal Singh's assembly constituency, were 42,116, 18,666 and 20,428. In Congress legislator Rajesh Patel's assembly constituency Bhojpur, the break-up was 38,162, 18,891 and 17,000.

UNI XC-AC ND1832