Tight security for MP bypolls

Bhopal, Mar 7 (UNI) Tight security arrangements have been made for tomorrow's byelections in Gwalior and Sidhi(ST) Lok Sabha and Udaypura Assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, where the main contest is between ruling BJP and main opposition Congress.

As many as 45 candidates were in the fray in the three constituencies having total 26.35 lakh electorate spread over 2749 booths.

Besides district police and home guard jawans, 12 companies of CRPF each will be deployed in Gwalior and Sidhi, while 5 CRPF companies will be deployed in Udaypura, state election office said.

Polling will be held from 0730 hours to 1630 hours, while the votes will be counted at district headquarters on March 11.

In Gwalior, State Tourism Minister and a member of the Scindia clan Yashodhara Raje Scindia is the BJP candidate, who is pitted in a 24-corner contest with Ashok Singh of Congress as her main rival.

In Sidhi(ST) constituency, Mr Manik Singh of Congress and BJP's Kunwar Singh were pitted in a 13-corner contest.

Gwalior and Sidhi seats fell vacant as incumbents Ramsevak (Cong) and C P Singh (BJP) respectively were disqualified after being caught in the cash-for-query scam.

Eight candidates figure in the Assembly byelection in Udaypura constituency in Raisen district. Vidisha's BJP MP Rampal Singh's wife Shashi Prabha Singh is the BJP candidate and her main rival is Saheb Singh Patel of Congress.

Udaypura seat fell vacant due to the resignation by Mr Rampal Singh on his election to the Lok Sabha in the byelection from Vidisha, which was earlier held by Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who quit after becoming Chief Minister.

Campaigning in these constituencies was by large peaceful and backwardness of the area remained the main poll plank of all contestants.

UNI