Pol parties welcome election announcement; govt withdraws CM's

Ruling BJP and other political parties on Friday welcomed the five-phase elections to the 81 seats for Jharkhand Assembly from November 30.

Main opposition JMM as well other parties, including Congress, AJSU and JD(U), also greeted the announcement of election dates.

The poll-panel announced during the day that Jharkhand assembly polls will be held in five phases between November 30 and December 20, and the counting of votes will take place on December 23.

Voting will take place on November 30, December 7, 12, 16 and 20.

Soon after announcement of the poll schedule, instructions were issued to withdraw photos of Chief Minister Raghubar Das on the government website.

With the Chief Election Commissioner, Sunil Arora, saying Model Code of Conduct will come into force soon after the announcement of the poll schedule, a government communiqu instructed to pull out photos of the chief minister and other pictures pertaining to the government from official calendars, government website and all such displays.

"In view of the 2019 assembly elections, all officials should ensure complying with Model Code of Conduct seriously," it said.

BJPs state unit General Secretary Dipak Prakash said "the announcement of five-phase elections for the Jharkhand assembly deserves welcome. This decision will enable fair and fearless elections."
AJSU Party president and former deputy chief minister Sudesh Mahto said, "The party is prepared to face the elections with a new concept."