Jharkhand to go to the polls in 5 phases from Nov 27-Dec 18

Map of Jharkhand.

The Election Commission today announced that elections will be held between November 27 and December 18 to elect a new Legislative Assembly, which has been under President's rule since January 19.

The state was brought under Central rule after then Chief Minister Shibu Soren lost a bye-election and resigned. The assembly, whose term would have normally expired on March 9 next year, was kept under animated suspension.

The Union Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal to dissolve the 81-member House on the basis of a recommendation to this effect sent by Jharkhand Governor K Sankaranarayanan to the Home Ministry.

The Home Ministry accordingly informed the Election Commission that the proclamation imposing President's rule could not be extended any further and would expire on January 18. It requested the Commission to conduct early elections so as to install a popular government in the state before January 18.

Announcing the election schedule today, Chief Election Commission Navin Chawla said polling would be conducted on November 27, December 2, December 8, December 12 and December 18.

The notifications for the five phases will be issued on November 3, November 7, November 13, November 17 and November 24.

The counting of votes will be held on December 23 and all the results are expected to be out by that evening.

Mr Chawla said the electoral rolls in the state were revised with reference to January 1, 2009 as the qualifying date before the Lok Sabha elections and have been updated. As per the rolls, there are 1,80,27,476 voters in the state.

He said that, based on the assessment of the ground situation in the Naxal-infested state, Central Police Forces (CPF) and State Armed Police (SAP) drawn from other States would be deployed during the assembly elections.

They would be used for safeguarding polling stations and for providing security to the electors and polling personnel at the polling stations on the polling days. He said they would also be used for securing the strong rooms where the electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be stored and for securing the counting centres.

Wherever needed, the CPF would be deployed in advance for area domination and other election related duties.

Mr Chawla said the Commission would constantly monitor the ground situation closely and take appropriate measures to ensure peaceful, free and fair polls.

The Model Code of Conduct has come into force in the State with immediate effect. It will be applicable to all candidates, political parties, the State Government concerned and the Union Government from today itself.

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