About 70 pc voter turnout in Lanji

Bhopal, Oct 30 (UNI) An estimated 65-70 per cent voters today exercised their franchise in the assembly by-election to the Lanji constituency in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district, election office sources said.

Polling was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported.

Initially, the polling began on a dull note but gained momentum later.

In the last 2003 election 74 per voter turnout was recorded in the constituency.

The seat fell vacant due to the death of former minister Dilip Bhatere (BJP), whose wife Dhareshwari Bhatere is in the fray as BJP nominee in a 19-cornered contest with Congress candidate Bhagwat Bhau Nagpure as her main rival.

Other prominent candidates include Janata Party's Kankar Munjare, Badhuram Devgadhe of Bharatiya Jan Shakti and Gondwana Gantantra Party's Rajeshwar Choudhary.

Counting will take place on November 3.

UNI