Congress, BJP supporters clash outside Kichha strongroom during municipal polls

A clash broke out between supporters of Congress MLA Tilak Raj Behar and former BJP MLA Rajesh Shukla outside the strongroom in Kichha, Udham Singh Nagar district, on Tuesday during the municipal council elections.

Behar, the Congress MLA from Kichha, alleged that Shukla assaulted him and Rajesh Pratap Singh, the Congress candidate for the Municipal Council chairperson's post.

Voting for the Kichha Municipal Council was held on Tuesday.

According to reports, Behar reached the strongroom, where ballot boxes were to be brought, to take stock of the situation. He objected to curtains put up as part of the security arrangements and sat at the spot.

Shukla later arrived at the strongroom along with his supporters. An argument subsequently broke out between the two groups and turned into a scuffle.

Police personnel intervened and separated the two sides. Following the incident, Behar staged a dharna at the spot. However, his supporters later took him home after his health deteriorated.

Shukla, meanwhile, accused the Congress camp of misconduct.

Police said security arrangements outside the strongroom had been strengthened and that strict surveillance was being maintained.  (with inputs from PTI)