By-poll likely in Prithvipur

Bhopal, Nov 27 (UNI) The Election Commission (ECI) is considering conducting a by-poll in Tikamgarh district's Prithvipur constituency where Bharatiya Janata Party BJP legislator and former Madhya Pradesh minister Sunil Nayak, a former close aide of Bharatiya Jan Shakti Founder-President and ex-chief minister Uma Bharti, was gunned down today.

Briefing reporters here, Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer J S Mathur said since Mr Nayak was a senior BJP leader and ''serious'' candidate, the ECI was taking the incident seriously and a decision in this regard would be taken shortly.

''There is a great possibility of a by-election in Prithvipur constituency but the final decision will be taken after receiving complete reports about the tragedy. It is a most unfortunate incident. Mr Nayak was gunned down at 1740 hrs on Prithvipur's outskirts, shortly after voting drew to a close,'' Mr Mathur clarified.

Earlier reports said the shooting took place in the last leg of polling. The MLA succumbed while being rushed to Jhansi Medical College. Indefinite curfew has been clamped at Prithvipur from where Mr Nayak was contesting on a BJP ticket.

UNI BDG AC PD RN2100