PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said simultaneous polls for the state Assemblies and parliament are impossible to be held next year, though he said the idea of ‘one nation, one poll’ is theoretically a good one.
Although Kumar has earlier spoken in favour of simultaneous elections being held across the country, he has been stressing the need for wider discussions on the issue before plans are made for its implementation.
“Simultaneous polls at the time of the general elections next year are not possible. It is good in principle, but it is not possible immediately,” said Kumar in a reply to journalists’ questions on the matter.
With Assembly polls in Bihar being due in September 2020, sources said JD(U) is strongly in favour of ruling till that time. Since the sharing of seats among NDA parties for next year’s Lok Sabha polls is yet to be resolved, JD(U) reportedly feels allowing both the polls simultaneously next year could put it at a distinct advantage.
Bihar’s main Opposition party RJD has already rejected the ‘one nation, one poll’ proposal put forth by BJP, saying it would lead to marginalisation of regional parties and harm the federal spirit of the diverse nation that India is.