High turnout in Chitrakoot bypoll

Bhopal: Byelections to Chitrakoot Assembly constituency, held on Thursday, witnessed a high polling of around 65 per cent, leaving the ruling BJP anxious. 

The bypoll to the seat, necessitated following demise of sitting Congress MLA Prem Singh, however passed off peacefully, sources in chief electoral officer’s office said.

The results of the by-polls are scheduled to be announced on November 12. 

Opposition Congress which left no stone untouched to retain the seat, appeared upbeat over impressive turnout of voters in the elections sensing a “strong-under current” against the ruling BJP. 

“Lack of developmental works in the constituency has turned the voters against the ruling BJP. Even, the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s convoy was stopped by irate people in the constituency during his campaign recently. Besides, the people of the village of the BJP candidate have boycotted the elections in protest against lack of developmental works in their area. This clearly indicates a strong under current against the BJP”, MP Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) vice-president Raja Pataria said.

The saffron party however claimed that it would wrest the seat from Congress in the by-polls. 

“Chief minister led the campaign for BJP. He has assured the people in the constituency to accelerate development in their areas”, a spokesman of the ruling party said. 

The saffron party’s Shankar Dayal Tripathy locked horns with Congress’ Neelansu Chaturvedy in a multi-cornered contest in the byelection. 

 The results of by-polls may decide fate of MP PCC president Arun Yadav and Congress Legislature Party leader Ajey Singh, son of former MP chief minister Arjun Singh, ahead of 2018 assembly elections in the state.