House panel wants Lok Sabha, state polls together

Favouring simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, a Parliamentary panel has called for evolving a national consensus to avoid frequent polls, as it is important for country’s economic progress.

In its report tabled in Parliament recently, the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice has said that it seeks to open up debate on “this important issue” and try and establish national consensus to avoid frequent elections.

It felt that gaining consensus may be difficult in certain states. However, it said in the larger context of economic development prospects of holding simultaneous elections need to be “weighed and deeply considered by all political parties.

Another issue that could crop up is the frequent invocation of Model Code of Conduct and it could create impediments in fulfilling poll promises, it said.

Holding simultaneous elections “may not be feasible in 2016 or even in a decade” but it expresses confidence that a solution will be found to reduce the frequency of elections, “which relieve people and government machinery being tired of frequent electoral processes”.

“This is important for India if it is to compete with other nations in developmental agenda on real time basis as robust democratic country,” it said.
DH News Service