Over 65 pc polling in MP; BJP MLA shot dead

Bhopal, Nov 27 (UNI) More than 65 per cent of a 3,63,04,152-strong electorate turned up for voting across 230 constituencies of Madhya Pradesh in today's Assembly polling marred by isolated violence including the gunning down of former minister and BJP nominee Sunil Nayak.

State Election Office sources provided the percentage on the basis of reports received until 2200 hrs from all 50 districts.

''Shajapur district recorded the highest 75 per cent voting,'' state Chief Electoral Officer J S Mathur said while quoting tentative statistics available at close of polling.

Based on incomplete data received from districts, he said the lowest 50 per cent voting was registered in tribal-dominated Shahdol and Dindori districts while 28 districts recorded over 60 per cent polling.

A UNI report from Tikamgarh district town said Bharatiya Jan Shakti founder-president, former chief minister and BJS Tikamgarh candidate Uma Bharti demanded repolling in 49 polling centres that were ''captured'' by the Congress in the constituency.

(Eds: Pl pick up suitably from earlier series.) UNI Team-AC PD SK KP2308