'Missing' SP candidate traced, says he was not abducted

Former minister and Samajwadi Party candidate from Betul, Ashok Sanvle, who reportedly went missing after addressing an election rally on Saturday, was traced early on Sunday in a village.

Former Madhya Pradesh minister and Samajwadi Party candidate from Betul, Ashok Sanvle, who reportedly went missing after addressing an election rally on Saturday, was traced early on Sunday in a remote village in the district.

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Savle, who is contesting on a SP ticket following denial of Congress ticket, said in a statement at Jhallar police station he was with his supporters in interior areas of the constituency after addressing his last election rally at Chicholi, police sources said.

Dismissing claims that he had been abducted, the SP candidate said no such thing had happened and he was in the company of his followers in a remote village when he was seen in the wee hours by police and others searching him.

A case had been registered by police after his brother lodged a complaint alleging disappearance of Sanvle, who had been expelled from Congress after he decided to contest as a SP nominee in December 1 assembly elections.

While SP workers had alleged that the missing leader had been abducted, party's national secretary Suneelam had led a road block in Multai demanding immediate steps to trace Sanvle and threatened to organise a 'gherao' of the district police headquarters here.