Patna: Bihar leaders, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of state assembly polls.

“We welcome the poll announcement by the Election Commission. We are ready for it,” Nitish Kumar said.

Nitish Kumar, who held a closed door meeting with his party leaders and workers here on Wednesday, said the EC’s decision to deploy central para-military forces at all poll booths across the state for free and fair elections was a positive one.

“The EC should deploy adequate number of para military forces for conducting peaceful free and fair polls,” Nitish Kumar said.

“We are already in election mood and are now happy that finally the poll dates are announced,” Lalu Prasad said.

Lalu said the grand alliance had already finalised seat sharing and announced name of Nitish Kumar as the chief ministerial candidate.

Sushil Modi said the EC should ensure free and fair polls. “We welcome the poll announcement but the EC should make adequate arrangement for peaceful and fair polls,” he said.

Modi said BJP-led NDA camp is upbeat and confident to defeat the grand alliance of JD-U,RJD and Congress. “We will finalise the seat sharing soon,” he said.

The six left parties that have joined hands to contest polls together for the first time in Bihar also welcomed the announcement.

Bihar elections would be held in five phases starting October 12. The polling would end on November 5.