Hold National Games after elections: BJP

RANCHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday demanded that the 34th National Games should take place in Jharkhand after an elected government takes office.

“For one or another reason the National Games have been postponed four times. The necessary infrastructure for the games is not ready. The Congress is trying to delay elections in the name of holding the games,” state BJP president Raghubar Das told IANS.

“We are in favour of holding the National Games after an elected government is formed in the state. Why are authorities trying to hold them in November when the infrastructure is not ready?”

The Janata Dal-United (JD-U), a BJP ally, also favours the National Games after the elections.

“What is the need to hold the National Games in November? In Jharkhand, elections are likely to take place in November and December. We want the games to take place after the elections,” state JD-U president Jaleshwar Mahto told IANS.

The Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) has urged the Election Commission not to hold elections in November as the games will take place that month.

Jharkhand was awarded the 34th National Games in 2002. These were to be held in 2007. But the dates have been postponed four times.