Tricornered contest on cards in MP bypoll

Shivpuri, MP, May 18 (UNI) A tricornered contest is on the cards in this assembly constituency -- where a bypoll is slated for June 2 -- between Mr Ganesh Gautam (BJP), Mr Veerendra Singh Raghuvanshi (Cong) and Mr Narendra Birthare (BJ) while the BSP -- which recently romped to power in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh -- is not in the fray.

Election office sources said that five independents Vishnuprasad Namdev, Ramjilal, Surendra Kumar Sharma, Azad Khan and Vimal Goyal withdrew from the arena today -- the last day for doing so -- thereby leaving 15 nominees in the fray. A total of 30 candidates submitted nomination papers and ten were rejected.

Mr Birthare trashed speculation that he was withdrawing from the race.

The byelection was necessitated by the resignation of BJP MLA Yashodhara Raje Scindia after she emerged victorious in the Gwalior Lok Sabha constituency bypoll.

UNI