Estimated 17 pc polling in Khargone and Sanver bypoll

Bhopal, Dec 12 (UNI) An estimated 17 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise in the first four hours of polling in the by-elections to Khargone Lok Sabha and Sanver Assembly constituencies in western Madhya Pradesh, official sources said.

Polling, which started on a dull note due to inclement weather, gained momentum as the day progressed, election office said, adding polling was progressing peacefully amid tight security arrangements.

Congress MLA Ashwin Joshi, who was found 'unauthorisedly' moving in a polling booth was expelled from Sanver constituency in Indore district, and his vehicle seized, District Returning Officer Vivek Agrawal said.

Nearly 17 percent of the 12,91,572 electorate in Khargone and an equal percentage of the 1,71,833 electorate in Sanver have exercised their franchise till 1100 hours, the election office added.

Eleven candidates each are in the fray in both the constituencies.

Khargone parliamentary seat X X X Eds picking up here from line one para four of DR 2 'ELECTION-MP-POLLING-BEGINS'.

UNI