By IANS,
Ranchi : Union Home Minister P. Chidambram Friday said the Election Commission had been asked to fix dates for assembly elections in Jharkhand.
“The Election Commission has been asked to fix dates for the assembly election of Jharkhand. It is my guess that the Election Commission will come out with the announcement after polls in three states — Maharasthtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh — are over on October 13,” Chidambaram told reporters here.
When asked how could dates be announced before the dissolution of the state assembly, he said: “The assembly will be dissolved once the Election Commission informs the central government about the dates”. Jharkhand is under president’s rule and the assembly is in suspended animation.
Earlier, the BJP protested against Chidambaram’s visit to Ranchi saying he had gone back on the promise to have elections in the state after the monsoon. The BJP workers demonstrated their protest at Hinoo roundabout here.
“Chidambaram has betrayed the people of the state and he has no right to visit the state,” said state BJP president Raghubar Das. He said: “The central home minister had promised to hold elections after monsoon, but there is no sign of it.”
The home minister, meanwhile, said he was happy some development work was taking place in the state under president’s rule.
“People of Jharkhand have suffered in the past. Under president rule some work has been done. The foundation laid under president rule will oblige the coming elected government to carry forward the development work”. He praised the state governor for his work.
“The public distribution system has been reinvented in the state and 87 percent wages under NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) are paid through banks,” the home minister said.
“All the steps are intended to help the poor people”, he added.
Chidambaram was in Ranchi to review the security scenario, operations against Maoist rebels and development works in the state.