Campaign ends for bypoll in MP

Bhopal, Mar 6 (UNI) Campaigning came to an end this evening for the byelections in Gwalior and Sidhi Lok Sabha constituencies and Udaypura assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh going to polls on March 8.

Altogether 45 candidates figure in the three constituencies having total electorate of 26 lakh, while the main contest is between ruling BJP and Congress. Counting of votes will take place on March 11.

Gwalior and Sidhi seats fell vacant as incumbents Ramsevak (Congress) and Chandra Pratap Singh (BJP) respectively were disqualified after being caught in the cash-for-query scam. Udaypura seat fell vacant as Mr Rampal Singh (BJP) resigned on his election to the Lok Sabha in the byelection in Vidisha.

With the next Assembly election just a year away, the ruling BJP and main opposition Congress have deployed all means to win over the voters.

In Gwalior constituency, having about 14 lakh electorate, 24 candidates were in the fray. This include Scindia clan member and State Tourism Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia (BJP) and new face Ashok Singh of Congress. Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Lok Jan Shakti candidates were also in the fray.

Congress MP and scion of Scindia family Jyotiraditya Scindia has joined the campaign trail in favour of the party candidate.

Mr Manik Singh of Congress and Mr Kunwar Singh of BJP are prominent among 13 contestants in Sidhi(ST) having about 11 lakh electorate. Union Minister Arjun Singh's son and Congress MLA Ajay Singh is the chief campaign manager. Mr Arjun Singh did not join the campaigning on health grounds.

In Udaypura constituency in Raisen district, which was once represented by Mrs Vimla Sharma, wife of former President late Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, eight candidates were in the fray. BJP MP Rampal Singh's wife Shashi Prabha Singh is the BJP candidate, while her Congress rival is Sahib Singh Patel, a close associate of Union Minister Suresh Pachouri. A total of 1.61 lakh electorate is scheduled to cast their votes in 186 booths.

Elaborate arrangements have been made for the byelections with deployment of about 29 companies of para military force, besides district police.

UNI