MP bypolls: 25 p.c. polling in Kukshi, Sonkatch Assembly seats

Nearly 25 per cent polling was recorded during the bypolls in Kukshi and Sonkatch Assembly constituencies of Madhya Pradesh till noon today.

Kukshi and Sonkatch registered 28 per cent and 22 per cent polling by 12 PM respectively, officials said, adding no report of any untoward incident was received so far.

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

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

Ruling BJP has fielded former MP Phoolchand Verma’s son Rajendra Verma from Sonkatch and Madhya Pradesh Minister Ranjana Baghel’s husband Mukam Singh Kirade is the nominee from Kukshi.

While Congress has fielded Jamuna Devi’s niece Nisha Singhar from Kukshi and MP Sajjan Singh Verma’s nephew Arjun Verma from Sonkatch.

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

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

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