Seven candidates withdraw from contest in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, May 18 (UNI) On the final day for withdrawing of nomination, a total seven candidates bowed out of the race for the June 2 assembly byelections to Chhattisgarh's Khairagarh and Malkharauda (SC) constituencies.

''Independents Khemraj Lodhi and Ms Shakuntala Jain withdrew from the contest in Rajnandgaon district's Khairagarh thereby leaving nine nominees in the fray including representatives of the BJP, Congress, BSP and Chhattisgarh Vikas Party,'' state Deputy Chief Election Officer S R Bandhe told UNI.

In Janjgir-Champa district's Malkharauda, 23 nomination papers were found to be in order. Of them, independents Jaishankar Jangde, Puran Lal Jangde, Phoolbai, Basant and Mohan bowed out of the arena thus leaving 18 candidates including those of the BJP, Congress and BSP.

''The Election Commission allotted symbols to all the nominees.

Counting and declaration of results are scheduled for June 5,'' said Mr Bandhe.

The Khairagarh bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of MLA Devavrat Singh who put in his papers after being elected to the Lok Sabha from Rajnandgaon. The chief contest is between Ms Padma Singh (Cong) and Mr Komal Janghel (BJP).

BSP MLA Lalsai Khunte's election from Malkharauda was annulled by the High Court. The Satnami community dominates Malkharauda where the key contest is between Mr Khunte (BSP), Mr Nirmal Sinha (BJP) and Mr Mohanmani Jatwar (Cong). The 1,71,752-strong electorate includes 85,529 women.

Except in the 1972 polls, Khairagarh has always gone to the Congress since 1952. The Khairagarh royal family's representatives emerged victorious except on three occasions. Ms Singh is the wife of Mr Devavrat Singh, who is also from the same lineage. The 1,47,600-strong electorate includes 74,776 women.

UNI