Notification for by-elections issued

Bhopal, Feb 12 (UNI) The Election Commission has set in motion the process for by-elections in Gwalior and Sidhi(ST) Lok Sabha constituencies and Udaypura Assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh with the issuance of the notification today.

The Lok Sabha by-elections were necessitated with the Supreme Court approving the Lok Sabha decision to expel Ram Sevak of Gwalior and Chandra Pratap Singh of Sidhi from the membership of the House as they were caught in the cash-for-query scam.

The Udaypura seat fell vacant as the incumbent Rampal Singh of BJP was elected to Lok Sabha from Vidisha in the by-election caused by the resignation of Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on becoming the Chief Minister.

Filing of nominations, which opened today, will conclude on February 19, while scrutiny will take place next day. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is February 22. Polling will be held on March 8, while counting will take place on March 11.

In the 2004 Lok Sabha election, Mr Sevak (Cong) was elected from Gwalior defeating Jaibhan Singh Pavaiyya of BJP, while Mr Singh (BJP) defeated Tilakraj Singh (Cong) by about 50,000 votes in Sidhi.

UNI