New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) The BJP on Friday appointed union minister Ananth Kumar as election in-charge of Bihar, where assembly elections are due later this year.

"President Amit Shah has appointed Ananth Kumar as election in-charge of Bihar and Dharmendra Pradhan as co-in-charge," a party statement said.

As general secretaries of the party, both the leaders have worked in Bihar in the past and are well familiar with the state politics and this is the reason they have been assigned this responsibility, said a senior leader.

While Ananth Kumar is the chemical and fertilisers minister in the Narendra Modi government, Pradhan holds the petroleum and natural gas portfolio.