High-octane campaigning ends for Phase 1 polling in Jharkhand

RANCHI: Infiltrators grab land in Jharkhand by marrying tribal women and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form a panel to identify them and drive them out of the state if voted to power in the upcoming assembly elections, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Monday.

- HT Correspondent

His comments came as campaigning for the first phase of the polls to the 81-member assembly came to a close.

"We will bring in legislation to prevent the transfer of land to infiltrators if they marry tribal women. We will also form a committee to identify infiltrators to drive them out and reclaim land grabbed by them," he said in Seraikela district in southeastern Jharkhand, while canvassing for former chief minister Champai Soren.

Around 13.7 million voters will, on Wednesday, decide the fate of 685 candidates in the fray for 43 seats in the first phase of polling in the state. The second phase will be held on November 20, and the results will be declared on November 23.

Wednesday's phase covers most of the tribal seats in Kolhan and South Chhotanagpur division, including the industrial town of Jamshedpur, which celebrates 100 years of its foundation this year.