Campaigning ends, polling on April 12

Bhopal, Apr 10: The high-voltage campaign for the April 12 Betul Lok Sabha by-election came to an end on Thursday evening with BJP candidate Hemanth Khandelwal locked in tight race with Congress nominee Sukhdeo Panse. Despite having better chances, the BJP left nothing to chance in view of defeat in recent by-election, and victory in Rajya Sabha election held last month.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan campaigned vigorously for the party. Senior leader Venkaiah Naidu and actress-MP Hema Malini also campaigned election meetings. For the Congress, main campaigners are Union Ministers Kamal Nath and State Congress president Suresh Pachauri. The SP, which had emerged third in the 2003 elections, has put up Multai legislator Sunilam. SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav, general secretary Amar Singh and actresses-SP leaders Jaya Bachchan and Jaya Bhaduri campaigned for the party.

The main issue raised by the BJP during the campaign was rise in inflation during the UPA government rule in the Centre, while the Congress raised the issues of power crisis, unemployment and deteriorating of law and order. A total of 10,96,418 electorate including 5,70,889 males and 5,20,162 females would exercise franchise for the April 12 by-poll. These include about 3.2 lakh tribals and 2.75 lakh Kurmi community voters. The BJP is eyeing tribal voters, whereas the Congress is wooing Kurmi voters. Panse also belongs to the same Kurmi community.

Betul constituency comprises eight assembly segments of which BJP held five, Congress two and the SP one. The BJP is facing tough contest from the Congress in Masaud, Ghodadongri, Harda and Amla segments but it seemed to be in comfortable position in Betul, Multai, Bhaisdehi and Timarni. A total of 12 candidates, including those of Congress, BJP, SP,GGP and Samajwadi Jan Parishad besides seven independents are in the fray. Counting would take place on April 16.