Amarwara By-Election: Preparations Complete and Counting Begins

All preparations are in place for the vote count of the Amarwara by-election in Madhya Pradesh. The counting will decide the fate of nine candidates from BJP, Congress, and GGP. The turnout was 78.71%, and counting begins at 8 am on July 13 at Government PG College Bhawan under tight security measures.

All preparations have been finalized for the counting of votes in the Amarwara by-election in Madhya Pradesh, an official confirmed on Friday.

The by-election for the Scheduled Tribe reserved constituency in Chhindwara district saw a turnout of 78.71%, according to the official.

Nine candidates, including those from the BJP, Congress, and Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), await the outcome, which will be determined over 20 rounds of counting.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Kaul informed that the vote counting is set to commence at 8 am on July 13 at the Government PG College Bhawan.

Officials have ensured a three-tier security system at the counting venue, with only authorized pass holders permitted entry.

The turnout reflects a 10% drop compared to the 2023 assembly election, which recorded an 88.63% turnout.

This by-election in Chhindwara holds significant importance for both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. Chhindwara has historically been a Congress stronghold, led by senior leader Kamal Nath.

While Congress bagged the Amarwara seat in the 2023 assembly elections, BJP's Vivek Bunty Sahu won the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat, defeating Kamal Nath's son, Nakul Nath.

The by-election was necessitated after three-time Congress MLA Kamlesh Shah defected to the BJP in March. Shah contested on behalf of the BJP, facing Congress candidate Dheeran Shah Invati and GGP's Devraman Bhalavi.

The GGP last won the Amarwara seat in 2003, whereas Congress has claimed it nine times. The BJP has previously succeeded in 1972, 1990, and 2008.