Polling underway in 6 Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh

Polling commenced in six Madhya Pradesh constituencies (Tikamgarh, Damoh, Khajuraho, Satna, Rewa, Hoshangabad) for the second phase of general elections. Over 12,800 polling booths, including 1,136 staffed by women, have been established for 1,116,2460 voters. Satna witnessed the highest number of candidates (19), while Tikamgarh had the least (7). Union Minister Virendra Kumar and state BJP chief V D Sharma are contesting from Tikamgarh and Khajuraho, respectively. Extensive security measures have been implemented, including flying squads and surveillance teams.

Polling began Friday morning in six Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh in the second phase of general elections, an official said.

Voting started at 7 am in Tikamgarh (SC), Damoh, Khajuraho, Satna, Rewa and Hoshangabad, and will end at 6 pm, the official said.

A total of 12,828 polling booths, including 1,136 run by women, have been set up for 1,1162,460 voters of whom 58,32,333 are men, 53,29,972 women and 155 transgenders, the official said.

The maximum number of candidates - 19 - are in the fray in Satna, while the lowest are in Tikamgarh where seven are contesting.

There are 2,865 sensitive polling booths in the six constituencies that are spread over 47 assembly segments in the state.

Facilities like water, medicines and shelter have been provided at all the polling booths, state chief electoral officer Anupam Rajan said.

Union minister Virendra Kumar is seeking a fourth straight term in Parliament from Tikamgarh. He is taking on Congress candidate Pankaj Ahirwar.

State BJP chief V D Sharma is seeking a second term from the Khajuraho seat. The opposition INDIA bloc is supporting IAS officer R B Prajapati of All India Forward Bloc against Sharma after Samajwadi Party candidate Meera Yadav's nomination papers were rejected.

Altogether 223 flying squad teams and 240 static surveillance teams are keeping a close watch on the polling, the official said.

In the 2014 general elections, 61.57 per cent voting was recorded in MP, which increased by 10 per cent to 71.16 per cent in 2019.

The third and fourth phases of Lok Sabha polls will be held on May 7 and 13.

In 2019, the BJP won 28 out of the total 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh, while the Congress could only bag the Chhindwara seat.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)