Over 70 pc polling recorded in MP bypoll

Bhopal, Feb 14 (PTI) Over 70 per cent polling was todayrecorded in the by-polls at the Kukshi and Sonkatch assemblyconstituencies in Madhya Pradesh, where elections passed offpeacefully.

Kukshi recorded over 70 per cent polling while atSonkatch, over 80 per cent voters exercised their right tofranchise, State Joint Election Officer Dhyaneshwar B Patiltold PTI here.

No untoward incident was reported from any part of thetwin assembly segments. About 100 out of a total of 243polling booths were sensitive in Sonkatch, while 15 out of the179 polling booths were sensitive in Kukshi, he said addingthat the polling began at 7am and ended at 5pm.

The byelections was necessitated in Kukshi due to deathof the Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, JamunaDevi, while Sonkatch seat fell vacant after Sajjan Singh Vermabecame a Member of Parliament and resigned.

BJP has fielded former MP Phoolchand Verma''s son RajendraVerma from Sonkatch, while state minister Ranjana Baghel''shusband Mukam Singh Kirade is their nominee from Kukshi.

Congress has fielded Jamuna Devi''s niece Nisha Singharfrom Kukshi and MP Sajjan Singh Verma''s nephew Arjun Vermafrom Sonkatch.

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

Counting of votes would be held on February 17 in boththe constituencies.