Jharkhand polls likely in December

NEW DELHI: Assembly elections to Jharkhand, which is presently under President���s rule, are likely to take place in December. A strong indication to this effect was provided on Thursday when the 34th National Games, scheduled to be held in Ranchi between November 21 and December 5, was postponed.

Even though the National Games were postponed for the fifth time in two years, the Indian Olympic Association, while explaining the decision, took refuge behind the impending assembly polls in the state. ���After talks with the union government, it has been decided to postpone the National Games till after the Jharkhand Assembly elections,������ IOA president Suresh Kalmadi told newspersons here on Thursday.

Mr Kalmadi���s remarks were seen in the political circles here as confirmation of the Centre���s readiness to hold assembly polls in the state by December this year. The state assembly has been under suspended animation since January 20 this year.