Peaceful polling in MP bypolls

Bhopal, Mar 8(UNI) Amidst tight security, moderate polling is in progress today for the byelections in Gwalior and Sidhi(ST) Lok Sabha and Udaypura Assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh.

A total of 29 companies of CRPF, besides Special Armed Force, Home Guards and district police personnel have been deployed in the three constituencies, having over 26 lakh electorate and 45 candidates. Polling in 2,749 booths was progressing peacefully, official sources said.

In Gwalior, about 15 percent of the 13.79 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in the first four hours after polling began at 0730 hours. State Tourism Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia(BJP) and Mr Ashok Singh (Congress) were among 24 candidates in the fray.

Expelled BJP leader and Bhartiya Jan Shakti President Uma Bharti was not allowed to visit Gwalior last night. She was stopped at Morena for the night and allowed to proceed to Babina today, police said.

In Sidhi(ST) constituency, about 10 percent of 10.90 lakh elctorate cast their votes in the first four hours. As many as 13 candidates, including Mr Manik Singh(Cong) and BJP's Kunwar Singh, were in the fray.

More than 20 percent polling was recorded in the first four hours in Udaypura assembly constituency in Raisen district, where an additional company of Special Armed Force was requisitioned from Bhopal today in addition to five companies of CRPF and 2 companies of SAF and 400 police jawans. There are a total of 1.67 lakh electorate.

Additional security personnel were deployed due to the presence of a large number of prominent politicians, including legislators, in the rural constituency. Vidisha's BJP MP Rampal Singh's wife Shashi Prabha Singh (BJP) and Mr Saheb Singh Patel(Cong) were among the 8 candidates in the fray.

Gwalior and Sidhi seats fell vacant due to disqualification of incumbents Mr Ramsevak (Cong) and Mr Chandra Pratap Singh (BJP) who were caught in the cash-for-query scam. Udaypura seat fell vacant due to resignation by Mr Rampal Singh on his election to the Lok Sabha in the bypoll from Vidisha, which was earlier held by Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who quit after becoming Chief Minister.

UNI