PM’s call for simultaneous polls on law ministry table
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Law and Justice is considering Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s suggestion for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies.
In its internal note, the ministry stated that it was already considering the standing committee report and the Election Commission’s views on the issue at the earliest.
The Prime Minister had called for a public debate earlier this month on the issue, saying frequent elections cost a lot to the exchequer and the election-time code of conduct disrupts governance.The issue is likely to be discussed in the Lok Sabha during the winter session as some parties want it be debated. The ministry is considering other factors like logistics, infrastructure and finances as well.
The Election Commission, while supporting the idea, had said the cost would be to the tune of `9,000 crore and the Constitution would have to be amended to curtail or extend the terms of Assemblies.
The poll panel, while deposing before a parliamentary panel, had said the simultaneous conduct of elections would require large-scale purchase of electronic voting machines and voter verifiable paper audit trail machines. “The machines would need to be replaced every 15 years, which would again entail expenditure. Storing these machines would increase the warehousing cost,” it had deposed.