India, March 17 -- A new constitution that strengthens President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's grip on power in Kazakhstan, Central Asia's largest country, has won overwhelming approval in a referendum, according to preliminary results released on Monday.

The country's Central Election Commission announced that over 87 per cent of respondents in Sunday's vote supported the constitutional changes that merge the Kazakhstani parliament's two chambers into one and give the president the right to appoint key Government officials with parliament's approval, including the restoration of the post of vice president.

The turnout exceeded 73 per cent. The constitutional changes also envisage the creation of a new body, the People's Council, alongside pa...