Ending months of uncertainty, the Election Commission on Friday announced the schedule for holding elections to the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly.

The state has been under President’s Rule since February 19 after the then chief minister, Shibu Soren, resigned when he failed in his attempt to enter the Assembly in the by-election to Tamar Assembly seat.

Announcing the plan to hold elections in five phases, beginning November 27, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Navin Chawla said voting would be held on November 27, December 2, 8, 12 and 18. Counting of votes would be held on December 23.

The Union Cabinet had on Thursday approved dissolution of the Assembly, paving the way for elections to be held. Ever since the imposition of President’s Rule, the Assembly was in a state of suspended animation.

According to EC sources, the Commission’s decision to hold elections was taken after Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s recent visit to the state, where he also reviewed the state’s preparedness to hold elections and launch a coordinated offensive against Naxals.

“The Home Ministry has accepted our demand for adequate security forces to ensure that elections can be conducted without any threat of violence from the Naxals or other elements,” said a senior EC official.

Chawla told reporters that the model code of conduct came into force immediately.

The Opposition BJP has been opposed to continuation of President’s Rule, alleging that by not holding the Assembly elections, the Union government was trying to rule the state by proxy. It has even filed a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the President’s Rule and seeking fresh elections.

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