Madhya Pradesh BJP candidate shot dead after polling ends; 60 pc cast votes in state
Bhopal, November 27 (Pervez Bari): The elections in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh proved to be fatal for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP), candidate Sunil Nayak when he was shot dead on Thursday evening at about 5.45 pm after the polling for the state legislative assembly had ended all over the state 45 minutes earlier. He was a sitting MLA and a former minister in the BJP-ruled state.
Born on October 13, 1962, Nayak was shot dead allegedly in Tikamgarh district's Prithvipur assembly constituency of the state following an altercation with his political rivals by Congress candidate brother. He received three gunshots in his head and neck and died on the way to Jhansi Medical College hospital where he was being rushed for treatment. He is survived by his wife, one son and two daughters.
Following Nayak’s murder indefinite curfew has been clamped in Prithvipur constituency area as hundreds of people took to the streets on hearing his demise.
According to Tikamgarh Collector K.P. Rahi Congress candidate from Prithvipur, Brijendra Singh Rathore's brother Yashpal Rathore, was alleged to have shot at Nayak at Nayakheda village in Prithvipur constituency about 45 minute after polling ended in a clash that ensued after the BJP MLA’s supporters were engaged in a wordy duel with the Congress candidate. Yashpal Rathore was arrested on the charge of murder, he added.
The election process of Prithvipur constituency, from where Sunil Nayak who was BJP candidate locked in 24-corner contest, would be countermanded and by-poll to held after the counting of votes which were polled today.
Nayak, was a former protégé of Bharatiya Jan Shakti (BJS) party's founder-president Uma Bharti, a former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, However,, he was contesting on a BJP ticket after he changed sides on the advice of his mentor Ms Bharti,
Nayak held a diploma in Civil Engineering but was agriculturalist by profession. He was earlier elected twice to Vidhan Sabha in 1998 and 2003. A member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he was convenor of Bajrang Dal of Tikamgarh District from 1984 to 1986.
Meanwhile, around 60 percent polling has been recorded by evening on Thursday in the polls. The poll percentage as per preliminary reports was 55 per cent in Bhopal, 60 per cent in Indore, Panna & Rewa, 70 per cent in Harda and 65 per cent in Sidhi, Betul & Tikamgarh. Detailed poll percentage would be available by tomorrow when the overall percentage of votes cast would be known, officials said.
According to official sources polling which was by and large peaceful was marred few stray incidents involving Electronic Voting Machine, (EVM), and police firing on those making mischief. They said that at some places there was an attempt to loot EVM while at others some people tried to damage them.
Malfunctioning or dysfunctioning of EVMs were reported at few places and replacement immediately made, the sources claimed.
A presiding officer died of brain haemorrhage in Katni district immediately after polling commenced while another presiding officer was stabbed at a booth in Bhind district's Lahar constituency.
Reports reaching here said that in a separate incident of poll-related violence, four persons were injured when Congress and BSP workers clashed over some petty issue at Khilchipur constituency, police said. The injured were rushed to Zirapur hospital and additional forces have been deployed in the area to keep vigil.
In Sehore district's Budhni constituency where Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was locked in a 13-cornered contest, 42 percent polling has been reported till 1500 hrs. Chouhan along with his wife Sadhna Singh exercised their franchise at Jait village of this constituency.
Meanwhile, as many as 10,000 election observers were also deployed across the state to keep a watchful eye on the polling exercise which will decide the fate of 3,179 candidates, including 1,374 independents.
The ruling BJP, main Congress Opposition party and Bahujan Samaj Party are contesting 228 seats each while Samajwadi Party has fielded candidates in 187 constituencies. Former Chief Minister Uma Bharti's BJS party is contesting 201 seats. (pervezbari@eth.net)