Tight security for Kota by-poll tomorrow

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Raipur, Dec 3(UNI) Elaborate security arrangements have been made for tomorrow's by-election in Kota assembly constituency in Chhattisgarh where a high-profile electoral battle is ahead between former chief minister Ajit Jogi's wife, Dr Renu, and her BJP rival Bhupendra Singh Thakur in a 23 corner contest.

Election officials said besides state police, five companies of central para-military forces have been deployed in the constituency to ensure smooth polling in 187 polling stations where more than 1.46 lakh electorate, including 50 per cent women, were expected to exercise their franchise.

By-election for Kota seat was necessitated following the death of Congress veteran Rajendra Prasad Shukla, who was the first speaker of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly and former speaker of Vidhan Sabha of undivided Madhya Pradesh.

Election in Kota constituency, a traditional stronghold of the Congress as the party had won all the 12 assembly elections held since 1952, has turned prestigious for both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress after Mrs. Renu Jogi entered the fray to contest her maiden election. BJP has fielded again Mr Bhupendra Singh, who had unsuccessfully contested from the same constituency and lost by a slender margin.

While both Mrs. Jogi and Mr Thakur remained low profile and focused more on establishing personal contact with the rural voters, those campaigning for them stole the limelight during electioneering, indulging in mud-slinging and leveling personal allegations against each other.

Former chief minister Ajit Jogi, who uses a wheel chair ever since he sustained serious spinal cord injuries in a road accident two and a half years ago, led the election campaign of his wife touring all the 155 villages in the rural and backward constituency.

On the other hand, the ruling BJP deployed a dozen of its ministers at strategic locations to oversee the campaign while hundreds of its workers, including elected representatives from urban bodies, camped in each village during the last fortnight to canvass support for Mr Thakur and to wrest the seat from the Congress. Chief Minister Raman Singh, former union minister Dilip Singh Judeo and film actress Hema Malini were the star campaigners.

Counting of votes will take place on December seven and the results were expected by noon on the same day.

UNI JJ RP BD1616

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