Balloting began Thursday in nine Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, officials said.

 

 As many as 118 candidates are in the fray in the nine constituencies – Chhindwara, Satna, Rewa, Balaghat, Sidhi, Shahdol, Mandla, Jabalpur, and Hoshangabad – where over 11 million voters will decide their fate. Polling for the rest of the constituencies will be held April 17 and 24.

 

 In Chhindwara, Congress leader and union minister Kamal Nath is pitted against Bharatiya Janata Party's Choudhary Chandrabhan Singh. Balloting is taking place at 16,592 polling stations. As many as 132,736 poll officials are on duty.

 

 The Maoist-affected constituency of Balaghat is on high alert.