New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Wednesday announced a preponement of the first phase of the Jharkhand state assembly election to 25 November from the earlierdate of 25 November. According to the EC, this was decidedafter taking into consideration ”representations received from different political parties and also inputs from the ministry of home affairs, Government of India and the state government of Jharkhand.”
The last date of nomination will be 7 November. Thirty of the 81 assembly constituencies go to polls in the first phase. The other four phases would be held on 2, 8, 12 and 18 December respectively. The date of counting - 23 December - remains unchanged. Jharkhand has been one of the states most affected by Maoist rebellion and security as well as logistical concerns for deployment of forces are behind holding a five-phase poll in the state.