Amid reports of minor violence, balloting in bypolls for two Madhya Pradesh assembly seats -- Ater in Bhind district and Bandhavgarh in Umaria district -- was underway on Sunday.
According to an Election Commission official, nearly 26 per cent voter turnout was witnessed in Ater and 28.8 per cent in Bandhavgarh till 11 a.m.
While an incident of stone pelting was reported at a booth in Ater, Congress candidate from the constituency Hemant Katare accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) goons of attacking his car and also booth capturing.
"BJP supporters were indulging in booth capturing and when I tried to prevent them, they threatened me and manhandled me and my driver," said Katare.
The Ater assembly seat fell vacant following the death of sitting legislator Satyadev Katare of the Congress, while the by-poll in Bandhavgarh was necessitated after its lawmaker Gyan Singh was elected to the Lok Sabha in November byelection last year.
The counting of votes in both assembly bypoll would take place on April 13.
More From This Section
--IANS
and/pgh/vt