The Centre on Tuesday ruled out early elections in Bihar and said the earliest the polls can be held in the state is in September.

Stressing that it is the prerogative of the Election Commission to fix the poll dates, Law Minister H R Bharadwaj said since the monsoon, which is about to set in, stays active till end of July, the period between September-November will be the right time for elections.

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If the polls are to be held after September, then President's rule in the state has to be extended as the mandatory six month period will lapse by then, he said.

"We will want extension of President rule in the state and hence it has to be put before Parliament when it meets in the end of July," Bharadwaj said.