More than 50 pc polling at Pandhana

Bhopal, Dec 4 (UNI) More than 50 per cent of a 1.56-lakh electorate peacefully exercised their franchise today in an assembly bypoll in Khandwa district's Pandhana constituency, official sources said.

The five candidates, whose electoral fortunes are now sealed in electronic voting machines, include Mr Devendra Verma (Bharatiya Janata Party), Mr Heeralal Silawat (Congress) and Mr Vasudev Atoot (Bharatiya Jan Shakti).

A UNI report from Khandwa district headquarters said that District Returning Officer Nikunj Shrivastav suspended two zonal officials for not providing information about the poll percentage.

''They are Assistant Engineer (Irrigation) N U Qureshi and Narmada Valley Development Authority A K Sude. The duo refused to furnish details every three hours, as stipulated by the Election Commission,'' Mr Shrivastav said.

The presiding officer at Paanjria polling centre was removed following complaints that voting permission was granted without display of identity cards.

The byelection was necessitated by the assassination of MLA Kishorilal Verma, the father of nominee Devendra. Counting will take place on December 7 at Khandwa and the result will be announced by afternoon.

UNI Team-AC 1738