The polling for 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly began on Wednesday morning. The voting began at 8 am and will continue till 5 pm in 227 seats, while in three assembly segments in the Naxal-affected Balaghat district – Lanji, Paraswada and Baihar – voting timings are from 7 am to 3 pm.
As many as 2,899 candidates, including 1,094 independents, are in the fray for the 230 seats, but the main contest is between the Congress and BJP. The state has nearly 5.04 crore eligible voters.
This high-stakes electoral battle will witness the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) eyeing a fourth straight term and Opposition Congress fighting for a comeback. The outcome of this Assembly elections could prove as a precursor to the Lok Sabha 2019 elections.
Results will be declared on December 11.
Here are the live election updates from the battleground in Madhya Pradesh:
* One Election Commission official in Guna, and two in Indore have passed away due to cardiac arrest. Compensation of Rs 10 lakh announced.
* 100 EVMs replaced across the state, says Election Commission.
