Ranchi, July 15 - Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram's statement that he would ask the Election Commission to hold elections in Jharkhand soon after the monsoon has been welcomed by his Congress party and other members of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), though independent legislators are not so happy.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a key partner of the UPA here, has welcomed the announcement.

'We are not surprised by the announcement. We wanted a government in the state after the UPA won both Rajya Sabha seats in the byelection last month. The Rajya Sabha election had indicated that the UPA had a majority,' senior JMM leader Mahtura Prasad Mahto told IANS.

He added: 'The JMM had given up after getting a cold shoulder from the central UPA leadership. The JMM is preparing for elections.'

Jharkhand Congress leaders say they will go with what New Delhi tells them.

'Chidambaram's announcement is a clear indication that we should start preparing for elections. Congress is in a win-win situation both ways. Either a government is formed or elections will take place in the state,' said a Congress leader who did not want to be named.

The term of the Jharkhand assembly expires in March next year.

But ten legislators belonging to smaller parties or independents supporting the UPA are unhappy with Chidambaram's statement.