Polling begins in MP byelection

Shivpuri, MP, June 2 (UNI) Amid tight security, polling got underway at 0700 hrs in this Assembly constituency where a byelection was necessitated due to resignation by then Madhya Pradesh Tourism Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia (BJP) following her election to the Lok Sabha from Gwalior in a bypoll.

A 1,96,452-strong electorate, including 91,271 women, is scheduled to exercise its franchise through EVMs at 216 polling stations, including 120 identified as sensitive, Polling ends at 1700 hrs, the Election Office said. A total of 15 candidates, including 10 independents, are in the fray.

Campaigning in this urban-rural mix constituency -- considered a pocket borough of the erstwhile Scindia royal family -- was by and large peaceful.

Former Congress leader Ganesh Ram Gautam is the ruling BJP nominee, while Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia-loyalist businessman Virendra Raghuvanshi is the Congress candidate. SP nominee Kavita Hazarilal Kotia and RSD candidate Kailash Singh Rawat, besides Bharatiya Janshakti nominee Narendra Birthare, are also in the fray.

The independents are Ajit Singh, Aslam, Girraj Koli, Jagna Adivasi, Jandel Singh Gurjar, Dhaniram Parihar, Brijesh Sharma, Dr Rakesh Samadhia Samrat, M K Sharma and Sant Kumar Sharma.

Counting will take place at Madhavrao Scindia Government PG College here from 0800 hrs on June 5.

UNI