Madhya Pradesh elections: Candidate brings Rs 10,000 in coins to file nomination

Returning Officer had to deploy five office staff to count the coins.

A candidate from Indore-3 Assembly seat in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh Thursday brought Rs 10,000 in one-rupee coins as security deposit to accompany his nomination papers. Photo: Representational

INDORE: A candidate from Indore-3 Assembly seat in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh Thursday brought Rs 10,000 in one-rupee coins as security deposit to accompany his nomination papers, PTI reported. Returning Officer Shashwat Sharma had to deploy five office staff to count the coins brought by candidate Dipak Pawar. While it took them almost 90 minutes to count the coins, Pawar did not file his nomination papers Thursday, Sharma said, adding that Friday was the last day to do so. Pawar was given a receipt for the deposit which he will he will have attach along with his nomination papers, officials said explaining the process. Pawar, who claimed to be an advocate and leader of Swarnim Bharat Inquilab Party, said he was making his poll debut and Rs 10,000 in one-rupee coins comprised donations given by people who were keen to see him contest. "As I could not get notes by way of donations, I was left with no option but to deposit coins as security," Pawar told reporters. The state goes to polls on November 28 and counting of votes will take place on December 11. According to an opinion conducted by ABP News, The BJP, which is ruling Madhya Pradesh for the last 15 years, is marginally ahead of the Congress and may end up securing a clear majority in the upcoming assembly elections. The survey has found that the incumbent BJP may get 111-121 seats while the Congress is slated to get between 100-110 seats. The majority mark in the 230-member state assembly is at 116 seats. The Congress, according to the survey, is witnessing a bumper increase in its vote share with 40 per cent of the people voting for the party, almost 15 per cent more than it received in 2013. However, the grand old party is still unable to match the BJP which is set to get 41 per cent vote share, five per cent less than previous assembly elections. Other players, including the BSP, will fall in the remaining 19 per cent vote share, which may help them in getting 6-12 seats. (With inputs from PTI)