56.6 pc voting in MP bypoll

Bhopal, June 3 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh State Election Office sources today said that 56.6 per cent of a 1,96,452-strong electorate exercised their franchise yesterday in a bypoll to Shivpuri Assembly constituency.

A preliminary report had quoted the figure as 47 per cent.

The gender-wise break-up was 61.39 per cent men and 51.08 per cent women. The sources claimed that, according to information obtained from the District Returning Officer, voting was peaceful.

Amidst heavy security, polling began at 0700 hrs through EVMs in 216 polling centres -- 120 identified as sensitive -- and concluded at 1700 hrs. The electorate includes 91,271 women.

A few persons were slightly injured after two groups of villagers clashed at Kakarwaya polling centre near Shivpuri district headquarters.

BJP MLA Om Prakash Khateek was detained at Amola Police Station, until voting ended, as he was present in the constituency despite an Election Commission ban on ministers and legislators visiting the area.

Five companies each of CRPF and SAF -- besides district police -- were deployed, official sources said.

The Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee staged a brief sit-in in front of the Election Office here in support of a demand for repoll.

''Succumbing to pressure from Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the district administration allowed booth-capturing,'' alleged the party's state unit General Secretary Manak Agrawal.

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