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February 9, 1998

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Shadow of violence looms over MP polls

Tension is brewing among different political parties in some high profile constituencies as electioneering gains momentum in Madhya Pradesh.

According to official sources, the state police and the administrative machinery have been geared up to conduct free and fair polls.

The state government has taken serious note of the Naxalite call for a poll boycott in the Bastar and Rajnandgaon constituencies. Additional security arrangements have been made and polling teams have been directed to ensure a strict vigil. Landmine explosions and attack on polling teams have marred elections in Naxalite infested Bastar constituency.

State electoral officer A K Vijayvargiya also admits that tension has gripped the electoral battle in the state because of close contests and the presence of many stalwarts in the fray. He said that reports of election-related clashes have been received from Bilaspur, Chhindwara and Jhabua.

Vargiya said Gwalior, Hoshangabad, Jhabua, Raipur, Rajgarh and Satna were other tension-prone constituencies in the state. All of them have political heavyweights in the field including Congress veterans Madhavrao Scindia (Gwalior) Arjun Singh (Hoshangabad) and Vidya Charan Shukla (Raipur).

With a fight between two Bhurias, Jhabua is poised for a sharp battle between Dalip Singh Bhuria who recently deserted the Congress to join the BJP, and state Tribal Welfare Minister Kantilal Bhuria.

Police sources said Dhar and Raigarh were considered communally sensitive. There could be a possibility of trouble in Betul, Bhind, Khajuraho and Rewa.

A special campaign had been launched to nab criminal elements and more than 1,000 unlicensed arms and ammunition had so far been seized. About 30,000 criminals and anti-social elements have been arrested.

UNI

Elections '98

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