Bhopal: With all eyes set on Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh, senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ramniwas Rawat are among 138 candidates whose fate will be sealed by voters in the sixth phase of polls for 8 parliamentary seats in state on Sunday. BJP having maximum at stake as it has to defend 7 seats of the eight it won in 2014. In Bhopal, Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh is locked in a battle with BJP nominee and Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, while Congress general secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia is seeking re-election from the Guna seat.
Union minister Narendra Tomar, sitting MP from Gwalior, is seeking election from Morena seat. Vidisha, once represented by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and newspaper baron Ramnath Goenka, also goes to polls on Sunday Other seats which are going to polls are Bhind (SC), Gwalior, Sagar and Rajgarh. Of the eight seats, except Guna, seven were won by the BJP in 2014. Electioneering to these seats saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and Congress president Rahul Gandhi trading charges on farm loan waiver, riding on which the Congress had last year wrested power from the BJP in the state after 15 years.
In all 14 women, are in the fray for the eight Lok Sabha seats, interestingly 6, highest from Bhopal seat. The constituency has 30, the highest number of candidates, followed by 25 in Morena and 18 each in Bhind and Gwalior. More than 1.44 crore voters of 8 parliamentary constituencies spread across 64 assembly constituencies in 16 districts will vote from 7am to 6pm in the third phase of polling in Madhya Pradesh. The first and second phases were held on April 29 and May 6, and the last phase is scheduled for May 19. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Polling teams were dispatched on Saturday to their respective booths. More than 80,000 employees have been engaged in election work including 18141 polling booths. More than 33,000 ballot units, 23,000 control units and 23000 VVPATs will be used in third phase of voting in MP. About 4024 polling booths across 8 seats have been placed under critical category. These booths will be monitored through webcasting and CCTV. Videography will also be done at another 1000 booths. More than 11,000 vehicles are being used to facilitate the electoral process. More than 6400 vehicles will be GPS enabled.
CEO VL Kantha Rao said that more than 45,000 police personnel from 85 companies of central police force and 30 of state police have been deployed to ensure free and fair elections. Moreover, 3000 mobile units of police will remain active. About 446 Quick Response Teams (QRT) and 2000 sector magistrates have been stationed for smooth conduction of electoral process. 101 inter-state and 128 inter-district borders adjoining these constituencies have been sealed. Out of 18,141 polling booths, 456 will be all women booth. Overall 48 polling booths will be run by specially-abled and 206 have been turned into Q-less booths.
facts and figures
Of eight seats, except Guna, seven were won by the BJP in 2014
14 women, are in the fray for the eight Lok Sabha seats, interestingly 6, highest from Bhopal seat
Bhopal has 30, the highest number of candidates, followed by 25 in Morena and 18 each in Bhind and Gwalior
More than 1.44 crore voters of 8 parliamentary constituencies spread across 64 assembly constituencies in 16 districts will vote from 7am to 6pm in the third phase of polling in MP.