Assembly Bypolls: Elections Underway In MP's Amarwara; 17% Voter Turnout By 9 Am

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Voting for the bypolls to the Amarwara Assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district was underway from 7 a.m. on Wednesday.

The polling was being held amid tight security which will conclude at 6 p.m. More than 2.5 lakh voters will decide the fate of nine candidates, including three-time former MLA Kamlesh Shah, who is contesting the election on BJP's symbol.

Due to light rain in the initial phase, the size of the crowd was witnessed to be less at the polling centres. Over 2.6 voters of Amarwara assembly are going to exercise their franchise through 332 polling centres on Wednesday. Till 9:00 am, 17% voting was done in the assembly constituency.

Shah, who won the election in December last year on the Congress symbol. He, however, resigned from the MLA post and joined the BJP, which necessitated the bypoll. Congress has fielded Dheernash Invati from this tribal-dominated constituency.

Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) has fielded Devirao Bhalavi. There are independent candidates also in the fray. The results will be announced on July 13.

There are a total of seven Assembly seats in Chhindwara district and the Congress won all these in December last year. But this time the BJP aims to challenge Congress veteran Kamal Nath's stronghold with candidate Kamlesh Shah.

Elderly voters in rural areas are also reaching out with enthusiasm to vote. Congress candidate Dhirensha Inwati cast his vote in Anchalkund village for Amarwara assembly by-election. 

People of village Dawari Jheel of Gram Panchayat Salaiya Bulaki of Vikaskhand Harrai under Amarwara assembly boycotted the voting.