MP bypolls: Candidate count is 59

Bhopal, Feb 19 (UNI) A total of 59 candidates have submitted their nomination papers for the March 8 bypolls to Madhya Pradesh's two Lok Sabha constituencies and an Assembly seat, official sources said.

On the last date for submitting papers, 17 nominees did so for Gwalior, Sidhi (ST) -- 14 and Udaypura Assembly seat -- 10.

The totals were Gwalior -- 28, Sidhi -- 18 and Udaypura -- 13.

In Gwalior, today's principal candidates were Ashok Singh (Congress), Phool Singh Baraiya (Lok Jan Shakti Party), Ahiwaran Singh (Rashtriya Samanta Dal) and Munna Goyal (Samajwadi Party).

At Sidhi, they were Manik Singh (Cong), Kunwar Singh (Bharatiya Janata Party), Ramlal (Communist Party of India-Maley) and Juglal Kol (RSD). In Udaypura, Mr Sahab Singh Patel (Cong) was the key figure.

State Tourism and Sports Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia and MP Rampal Singh's wife Shashiprabha were among 14 candidates who submitted their papers on February 17.

Ms Scindia (BJP), Jawahar Singh, Kedar and Lakhan Singh (all Bahujan Samaj Party), Ramshri Baghel (RSD), Sanjay Shiromani, Anand Singh Kushwaha 'Ramayani', Raja Ram, Atar Singh and Prabhu (all independents) submitted their papers for Gwalior. Gondwana Ganatantra Party President Heera Singh Markam submitted his papers for Sidhi (ST).

Ms Shashiprabha Singh (BJP), R S Yadav (SP) and Nisha Patel (RSD) submitted their papers for Udaypura.

Candidates who submitted papers even earlier were Sidhi -- Patiraj Singh (SP), Mabban Singh and Anante Singh (both BSP); Gwalior -- Independent Manoj Sharma.

The hustings were necessitated in Sidhi and Gwalior as MPs Chandrapratap Singh (BJP) and Ramsewak Singh Gujjar (Cong) were expelled from Parliament in the cash-for-query scam. Udaypura MLA Rampal Singh, who was the Public Health Engineering Minister, put in his papers after emerging victorious in the Vidisha Lok Sabha bypoll.

Submiting of nomination papers got underway on February 12.

Scrutiny will take place tomorrow and papers may be withdrawn until February 22. Counting is scheduled for March 11.

UNI