MP records 60.08 per cent polling at nine Lok Sabha seats

Madhya Pradesh recorded a 60.08 per cent poll turnout today, at nine Lok Sabha seats where voting was held during the first phase of the three-phased polls.
Polling was peaceful with no major untoward incidents reported from anywhere.
Out of the total 60.08 per cent voters, 62.18 were men and 57.80 were women, until 8.30 pm, Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Office sources said.
However, the final figure would go up further, sources said.
According to electoral office, the polling percentage in Satna was 53.77 per cent, Rewa (53.99 per cent), Sidhi (56.45 per cent), Shahdol (60.79 per cent), Jabalpur (48.14 per cent), Mandla (65.53 per cent), Balaghat (62.52 per cent), Chhindwara (70.93 per cent) and Hoshagabad (65.01 per cent).

Maximum voting was recorded at Union Minister Kamal Nath's constituency in Chhindwara, where 70.93 per cent voters including 77.46 per cent men and 69.30 per cent women exercised their franchise.

Prominent among those contesting during the first phase of polls in nine constituencies, out of 29 constituencies in the state, are union minister and Congress stalwart Kamal Nath and late Arjun Singh's son, MLA Ajay Singh.
While incumbent Nath is pitted against Choudhary Chandrabhan Singh of the BJP in Chhindwara, Ajay Singh is taking on present BJP MP Ganesh Singh from the Satna seat.
Other key contestants include former Madhya Pradesh attorney-general Vivek Tankha, who is in the race as a Congress nominee from Jabalpur constituency, where he is battling present MP Rakesh Singh of the BJP.