45-50 pc polling in final phase in Madhya Pradesh

An estimated 45 to 50 pc of the 2.32 crore electorate in Madhya Pradesh cast their ballots in the final phase of Lok Sabha elections.

An estimated 45 to 50 per cent of the 2.32 crore electorate in Madhya Pradesh on Monday cast their ballots in the final phase of Lok Sabha elections for 17 constituencies in the state which witnessed sporadic violence, rigging and damage to Electronic Voting Machines.

HT Image

"We expect the voting to reach halfway mark in this final phase," the state Election Office sources said, adding that reports of violence and rigging were being ascertained.

In an alleged rigging incident in Bhind Lok Sabha constituency, at least 18 people, including son of BJP MP Ramlakhan Singh, were arrested for casting a few bogus votes by intimidating polling staff, police said.

BJP sources here claimed that one of their party workers, Hanumant Singh was injured when rival Congress nominee supporter opened fire at Nainipura in Bhind. They also alleged that firing in air took place at Aghra in Guna Lok Sabha seat.

However, police did not confirm the firing incidents.

In the high-profile Guna constituency, police claimed to have foiled a bid by some persons to capture a booth at Aghra in Pohri tehsil.

Reports of damaging of EVMs or tampering with them were received from places like Guna, Gwalior and Bhind constituencies.

Villagers at few places in Shajapur, Morena and Vidisha boycotted polling to protest against lack of basic amenities.