Election Commission rules out simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Jharkhand
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Wednesday ruled out holding the Lok Sabha and Jharkhand assembly elections together, during a meeting with political parties in Ranchi. He said the Election Commission was currently focused on preparing for the Lok Sabha polls.
What the parties asked for
Most parties suggested that the Lok Sabha election in the state be held in several phases; only the RJD asked for a single-phase poll.
The Congress asked the commission to transfer officials who had been posted in the same place for more than three years. Representing the BJP, the party’s chief whip in the assembly, Radha Krishna Kishore, urged the commission not to move long-established polling booths, saying sudden changes caused difficulty for voters. He said the BJP was ready for the Lok Sabha election and claimed the state government had largely brought the Naxal problem under control, with no Naxal activity in recent by-elections.
The commission’s review
The full commission, led by Arora and including Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, spent two days in Ranchi reviewing arrangements. It met the Chief Secretary, the DGP and other senior officers, and held a meeting with District Election Officers-cum-Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of 15 districts. Topics included the availability of EVMs, security, measures against Naxal activity and voter awareness programmes.
The commission was reported to be satisfied with preparations so far, and indicated that the Lok Sabha election would be held in April-May. It directed officials to run extensive voter awareness drives in rural areas. Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha was among the officials present.
What happened next
The Lok Sabha election was held between 11 April and 19 May 2019. Jharkhand’s assembly election followed separately later that year: the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 30 seats, the BJP 25 and the Congress 16, and Hemant Soren became Chief Minister.
See also: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and elections
Originally published on 30 January 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.
Related News
Families of slain BJP workers in Bengal among special guests at Modi swearing-in
Fifty-four special guests have been invited to watch the new Council of Ministers, led byRead More
First session of new Lok Sabha likely to begin on June 6
The first session of the newly elected Lok Sabha is likely to begin on JuneRead More
Comments are Closed