MP bypolls: 25 pc polling in Kukshi, Sonkatch Assembly seats

Bhopal, Feb 14 (PTI) Nearly 25 per cent polling wasrecorded during the bypolls in Kukshi and Sonkatch Assemblyconstituencies of Madhya Pradesh till noon today.

Kukshi and Sonkatch registered 28 per cent and 22 percent polling by 12 PM respectively, officials said, adding noreport of any untoward incident was received so far.

The polling began at 8 AM and will end at 5 PM, theysaid.

The by-elections were necessitated in Kukshi due to thedeath of Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly,Jamuna Devi, while Sonkatch seat fell vacant after SajjanSingh Verma became Member of Parliament and resigned.

Ruling BJP has fielded former MP Phoolchand Verma''s sonRajendra Verma from Sonkatch and Madhya Pradesh MinisterRanjana Baghel''s husband Mukam Singh Kirade is the nomineefrom Kukshi.

While Congress has fielded Jamuna Devi''s niece NishaSinghar from Kukshi and MP Sajjan Singh Verma''s nephew ArjunVerma from Sonkatch.

Out of a total of 243 polling booths, 100 are sensitivein Sonkatch, while out of 179 polling booths, 15 are sensitivein Kukshi.

There are 1,56,821 and 1,17,972 voters in Sonkatch andKukshi constituencies respectively.

Counting of votes would be held on February 17 at boththe seats, officials said.