Patna, Sep 6 (IANS) Bihar politicians including the top three players, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and Lok Janshakti Party head Ram Vilas Paswan Monday welcomed the announcement of state assembly polls.

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

Kumar said that the over a month-long staggered polling will be justified if central para-military forces are deployed at poll booths across the state for free and fair elections.

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

Lalu Prasad said his party and its ally LJP have been in election mood and welcomed the formal announcement of polls. 'We are happy that finally the polls were announced,' he said.

Paswan 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,' Paswan said.

Congress and left parties also welcomed the announcement.

Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi told reporters here that the dates of polling would be Oct 21 (47 seats), Oct 24 (45) and Oct 28 (48) as well as Nov 1 (42), Nov 9 (35) and Nov 20 (26 seats).

The vote count will take place across the state Nov 24, he said.

About 55 million people will be eligible to vote in the country's third most populous state. The total electorate was put at 5,50,88,402.