Centre hints at Jharkhand elections after monsoon

Acknowledging that there was little chance of formation of a government in Jharkhand,which is under Presidents Rule with the Assembly in suspended animation,the Centre on Tuesday indicated that elections would be held in the state post-monsoon even as it got the Lok Sabha to approve an extension of the Presidents Rule there beyond July 19.

In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly,there are nine vacancies while there are other 10 members who are facing disqualification proceedings in the office of Speaker of the Assembly. This means that there is virtually no chance of formation of a government in the state, Home Minister P Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha while replying to a discussion on the motion for extension of the Central rule.

It is my desire that the new government should take over as soon as possible in Jharkhand. It is my intention to request the Election Commission to hold early elections in the state well before the expiry of the Presidents Rule. I think it will be possible to hold the elections in the state after the monsoons, Chidambaram said.