The Election Commission has directed district election officers to conduct mock poll one hour before polling for lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh.

According to the directives, mock polling should be conducted one hour before polling and minimum 50 votes should be cast in EVMs in the presence of polling agents. Results of mock polling should also be shown to polling agents.

It has been directed to inform polling staff about this during training.At the mock poll presiding officers should get it confirmed from polling agents that indicator in front of name of candidate to whom vote is cast is lit up on pressing the button. If an EVM develops snag during mock poll, it should be replaced immediately. The Commission has clarified that mock poll process should be video-graphed at polling booths, where the facility is available.

It should also be ascertained from agents of candidates and political parties that actual polling has been started only after deleting results of the mock poll.This apart, the Election Commission has informed that it would issue notification for third phase of lok Sabha elections in 10 lok Sabha constituencies in the State on Saturday. With this, process to file nominations will get underway and continue till April 5.

The constituencies where nominations will be submitted in the third phase include 18-Vidisha, 21-Dewas, 22-Ujjain, 23-Mandsaur, 24-Ratlam, 25-Dhar, 26-Indore, 27-Khargone, 28-Khandwa and 29-Betul. Nominations will be accepted from 11 am to 3 pm to returning officers.

Nominations can be filed till April 5. Scrutiny will be done on April 7. They can be withdrawn tillApril 9.The commission has decided to conduct lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh like other states from 7 am to 6 pm. Polling for the third phase will be held on April 24.