Peaceful polling in Chhattisgarh by-polls

Raipur, June 2 (UNI) Nearly 40 per cent of the 3.19 lakh electorte have exercised their franchise till 1300 hours in the Assembly byelection in Khairagarh and Malkharoda constituencies in Chhattisgarh, where polling is progressing peacefully.

Heavy voter turn-out was witnessed in the first two hours after polling began at 0800 hours, but later the pace slowed down due to heat wave conditions, according to the state election office.

Rajnandgaon district's Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar said polling progressed peacefully without any untoward incident, including in 68 hyper-sensitive polling station booths in Khairagrah constituency where Communist Party of India (Maoist) cadres have their presence.

Similarly, no untoward incident was reported from Malkharoda constituency in Janjgir-Champa district.

In Khairagrah, Congress candidate Mrs Padma Singh, BJP candidate Komal Janghel and BSP's Kumbhlal Sahu are locked in a nine corner contest while 18 candidates are in the fray in Malkharoda (SC) constituency.

By-election in Khairagrah was necessitated following resignation of Congress legislator Devavrat Singh subsequent to his election to Lok sabha in a by-election from Rajnandgaon.

Congress has fielded his wife.

Malkharoda fell vacant after the High Court disqualified sitting BSP legislator Lalsai Khute on an election petition. While BSP has fielded Mr Khute again, Congress has fielded Mr Mohan Mani Jatwar and BJP nominated Mr Nirmal Sinha, who are locked in a 18 corner contest.

UNI