Ranchi, Dec 6 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday asked the people of Jharkhand to vote for development in the state.

"Enough politics has been done in the name of caste and creed. The time has come to vote for development," Modi said while addressing a rally in the state's Hazaribagh district.

"Only development will take the state forward...," he said.

Polls are being held in the state in five phases. The third phase will be held Dec 9, while the vote count is Dec 23.

"Jharkhand is living under darkness despite the fact that state produces coal. God graced the state with forest and mines... and it has the potential to emerge as an economic power," Modi said.

He said the state will be able to generate Rs.20 lakh crore from coal in coming years under a new coal policy.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha was also present in the rally. He shared the dais with his son Jayant Sinha who is Hazaribagh MP and a minister in Modi cabinet.

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