Cong candidates lead in initital round of MP bypolls counting

Bhopal, Dec 15 (UNI) Congress candidates were leading over their BJP rivals in the initial round of counting of votes polled in the by-elections to the Khargone Lok Sabha and Sanver Assembly constituencies in western Madhya Pradesh today.

In Khargone, Congress candidate Arun Yadav, son of MPCC chief Subhash Yadav, was leading over his BJP rival Krishna Murari Moghe by about 10,000 votes after the first round of counting.

In Sanver constituency in Indore district, Congress nominee Tulsi Silawat was leading over his BJP rival Santosh Malaviya by 3471 votes after the eighth round of counting.

Eleven candidates each were in the fray in both the constituencies when polling took place on December 12. About 55 per cent of the 12,91,572 electorate in Khargone and 60 per cent of the 1,71,833 voters in Sanver had exercised their franchise.

Sanver seat fell vacant due to the death of state BJP Minister Prakash Sonkar, while disqualification of Mr Krishna Murari Moghe (BJP) on the Office of Profit issue caused the by-election in Khargone.

Along with the Congress and BJP candidates, Uma Bharati-led Bharatiya Janshakti candidates were also in the fray in both the constituencies.

UNI