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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