Bhopal , Even as final figures are awaited, more than 60 per cent of a 1,44,41,448-strong electorate – including 67,40,371 women – exercised franchise till the 1800 hrs deadline on Sunday amid tight security in Bhopal, Guna, Morena, Vidisha, Sagar, Bhind, Gwalior and Rajgarh parliamentary constituencies of Madhya Pradesh under the country’s penultimate and the state’s third phase in this general election.
Area-wise percentages are Bhopal 61.71, Rajgarh 68.90, Vidisha 65.31, Guna 64.80, Sagar 60.42, Gwalior 56.39, Bhind 50.82 and Morena 54.36.
As a precautionary measure, the Bhind administration restricted the movement of many people – including Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Bahujan Samaj Party candidates besides legislators – after they cast their votes. Polling was briefly halted after booth-capturing was attempted in Jaitpura Gudha village. That was followed by a dispute between Congress workers and law enforcement authorities.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were damaged in Rawatpura area. In Ater area, residents initially boycotted the democratic process within three villages to register a protest against water scarcity and other woes.
Bhopal Mayor Alok Sharma alleged to media that BJP polling agents were threatened by the brother of state Minister Arif Aqueel at Arif Nagar locality here.
In Guna town, an official was placed under suspension after an electronic voting machine (EVM) was appropriated at his residence late Saturday.
Squalls coming in from the direction of Rajasthan tousled tents at polling centres in Sheopur District’s rural areas and pandals collapsed at many places in Morena constituency.
“Of approximately 78,000 machines, 750 were replaced,” Chief Electoral Officer VL Kantha Rao told the press.
The voting timings were 0700-1800 hrs and polling stations number 18,141. A total 138 candidates’ fate was sealed in EVMs.
The state capital was the cynosure of all eyes as it witnessed saffron-clad first-timer Pragya Singh Thakur (BJP) on a high-profile collision course with Rajya Sabha Member and erstwhile chief minister Digvijaya Singh (Congress); Mr KP Yadav (BJP) tried his fortune against four-time MP Jyotiraditya Scindia (Cong) in Guna; Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar (BJP) was in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with former minister Ramniwas Rawat (Cong) in Morena while in Vidisha – where the outgoing four-time MP is External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj – Mr Ramakant Bhargav (BJP) fought Mr Shailendra Patel (Cong).
Principal contestants in Sagar were Mr Raj Bahadur Singh (BJP) and Mr Prabhu Singh Thakur (Cong), in Bhind (Scheduled Castes) Mrs Sandhya Rai (BJP) combatted youthful Devashish Jarariya (Cong), Mr Vivek Shejwalkar (BJP) was locked in combat with Mr Ashok Singh (Cong) in Gwalior and ‘defending’ MP Rodmal Nagar (BJP) contested against Mrs Mona Sustani (Cong) in Rajgarh.
Ex-chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his family exercised their franchise at his native village Jait in Sehore District and BJP Vice President Prabhat Jha voted in Gwalior. Erstwhile chief election commissioner OP Rawat, Chief Secretary SR Mohanty and Mr Rao did likewise here.Director General of Police VK Singh and his kin also cast their votes. In Sagar District, relatives carried a 106-year-old on a charpoy to the polling centre.
More than 79,000 officials were on duty; as many as 45,053 security personnel including 85 companies of Central Armed Police Force and 30 of the State Armed Force were deployed; 446 Quick Response teams formed; 101 inter-state and 128 inter-district check posts sealed; in excess of 11,000 vehicles were utilised for transporting polling teams, sector officers and police.
A total 4,024 critical centres were identified and more than 3,600 monitored by webcasting / CCTV; 1,720 vulnerable areas were singled out and 3,096 suspicious persons pinpointed. Prohibitory action was taken against 2,273 persons; 1,48,616 licensed weapons deposited and 9,409 illegal ones seized.
Digvijay skips voting in Rajgarh, tracks Bhopal polls
Bhopal: Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Sunday expressed regret over not being able to cast his ballot in Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh, which is over 130 km away from state capital Bhopal where he is locked in a key contest with BJP candidate Pragya Singh Thakur.
Throughout the day, he visited various polling stations in Bhopal to track the voting, sources said. Earlier in the day, he was seen outside a temple. When asked whether he will go to cast his vote, he replied, “I will see. I will try to reach.”
The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister also urged people to exercise their franchise in large numbers. “Go in large numbers and cast your vote. Vote without fear,” he said. The Congress leader is facing Thakur, a 2008 Malegaon blast case accused, among other candidates.
MP Polling Percentage
Bhopal 61.71%
Rajgarh 68.90%
Vidisha 65.31%
Guna 64.80%
Sagar 60.42%
Gwalior 56.39%
Bhind 50.82%
Morena 54.36%