Bhopal, Nov 30 (IANS) The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from Madhya Pradesh’s Sumawali constituency was arrested Sunday for violating the model code of conduct during re-poll, the police said.

While eye-witnesses claimed BSP candidate Ajab Singh Kushwah was trying to lure voters by distributing money among them, Morena police superintendent Santosh Kumar Singh said he was arrested for campaigning during re-polling.

‘Kushwah and his driver were arrested and the vehicle in which they had reached near the polling booth was seized,’ said Singh.

Three people found roaming near the polling booth with illegal weapons were also arrested.

The Election Commission of India ordered re-poll at 31 polling centres in 14 assembly constituencies after complaints of electoral irregularities and defects in the electronic voting machines were received during polling Thursday, said Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer J.S. Mathur.

He said the reasons for ordering re-poll include malfunctioning of the EVM, damage to EVMs, violence at booths and errors by polling staff.

A record 69.31 percent voter turnout was registered Nov 27 during polling for 230 assembly seats spread over 50 districts in the state as against 67.41 per cent in the 2003 assembly elections.

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