New Delhi, September 16: BJP today demanded that the Election Commission hold “early” elections in Jharkhand saying only a democratically elected government can deal with drought and law and order problem in the state. All the 21 BJP MLAs in the 82-member assembly had resigned on September 9 to press for early elections in the state which is under President”s Rule since January.
“The BJP delegation led by state unit chief Raghuvar Das met Election Commissioner S Y Qureshi and demanded holding of early elections in Jharkhand,” senior party leader Yashwant Sinha told reporters here. He said the delegation informed Qureshi that “the EC is in its jurisdiction to hold assembly elections in the state six months prior to the end of the term of the assembly which is on March 10 next year”.
Sinha said the EC was also informed that as the Central rule in the state ends on January 18, the election panel could initiate process of holding assembly polls in the state. “The state is reeling under drought and faces law and order problem and extremism.
A democratically elected government can only solve the problems, therefore, holding of early polls is necessary,” the BJP leader added. He said after the resignation of the BJP MLAs, the strength of the assembly has been reduced and no government can be formed.
—PTI–