Ahead of the Jharkhand polls, the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday directed the state government to remove the Acting Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta from his post with immediate effect. Also, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that JMM and Congress will contest the polls together in 70 seats. However, RJD expressed disappointment in the announcement and termed it as a "unilateral" decision.
#WATCH | On RJD's displeasure over seat sharing in Jharkhand, Congress leader Pawan Khera says, "There is no resentment or displeasure from anyone..." pic.twitter.com/FJHUUznmpK
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2024
#WATCH | Ranchi: RJD MP Manoj Jha says, "We have come before you for a special reason. You can see that our entire leadership is here at the request of our leader of opposition Tejashwi ji. We had a meeting this morning and it was decided in that meeting that the strength of… pic.twitter.com/5IWt00J5lM
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2024
The Jharkhand assembly elections are set to be held in two phases- Nov 13 and Nov 20.
The EC has cited the "history" of complaints against the DGP for the action. As an interim, the charge of the DGP will now be handed over to the senior DGP level in the cadre.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the Jharkhand State Government to remove Anurag Gupta from his position as the Director General of Police (DGP) with immediate effect.
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2024
Ajay Kumar Singh is to be reappointed as the state’s DGP pic.twitter.com/N1egb442bY
The state government has also been asked a submit a panel of names of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers by October 21 morning to enable the EC to pick an officer to be named the next DGP.
Earlier, during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Gupta was relieved of his duties as ADG (Special Branch), Jharkhand, following allegations of biased conduct made by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
ALSO READ | BJP, JMM launch poll yatras much ahead of election schedule announcement in Jharkhand
He was reassigned to the resident commissioner's office in Delhi and barred from returning to Jharkhand until the election process was completed, PTI reported.
Congress, JMM to contest 70 seats
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday said that INDIA bloc partners will contest 70 of the 81 seats for the upcoming assembly polls.
#WATCH | Ranchi: On RJD's displeasure over seat sharing for #JharkhandElection2024 under INDIA Alliance, BJP state charge Dr. Laxmikant Bajpai says, "Those who point fingers at others need to self-introspect. Congress is saying that the CM should be from their party. So, they… pic.twitter.com/vO4bX7Pi4S
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2024
"INDIA bloc will contest the Jharkhand assembly polls together. It has been decided during the seat-sharing talks with the allies that the Congress and the JMM will field candidates in 70 of 81 seats," said Soren.
#WATCH | Ranchi: On seat-sharing for #JharkhandElection, Jharkhand minister and Congress leader Banna Gupta says, "Our in charge, president, CLP leader together sat down with INDIA Alliance team. Everything has become very systematic. There is no 'if or but' anywhere. INDIA… pic.twitter.com/DWH10Re3Ka
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2024
While the seat-sharing talks are on, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has expressed disappointment over Soren's announcement. "The decision was taken unilaterally," said RJD spokesperson Manoj Kumar Jha.
"We were not consulted. All options are open to us," said Jha.
RJD has identified at least 15 to 18 seats in Jharkhand where it has the potential to defeat the BJP on its own.
The NDA on Friday announced that it will contest in 68 seats.
The filing of nomination papers for 43 assembly constituencies of Jharkhand, going to polls in the first phase, will continue till October 25.
In 2019, the JMM-led alliance won 47 seats in the Jharkhand assembly, including 30 of JMM and 16 of the Congress. While BJP secured 25 seats.
