The idea was floated long back by BJP veteran LK Advani.
Congress on Thursday remained non-committal on the issue of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies amid reports that the proposal is likely to see a fresh push from BJP.
"L.K. Advani has been making this pitch for years. Where is the question of Congress Party? It is a political decision all political parties have to take together...If everybody agrees, we will agree but this is debated. Even the BJP did not agree. This was the individual opinion of Advani", said party leader Kapil Sibal at the AICC briefing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had batted for the proposal at a recent party meeting. Reports had it that Modi said during a meeting of party office-bearers on March 19 that state elections coupled with local-level polls, spread across virtually every year, often "hinder" the execution of welfare measures.
The Prime Minister was keen on simultaneous elections once in five years. The idea, floated long back by BJP veteran L K Advani, has found favourable mentions from various Parliamentary panels and the Law Commission.
However, due to the complexities in undertaking the mammoth exercise, no government has taken up the issue even though political parties and leaders have spoken about it on and off.
The Standing Committee on Law and Personnel in its recent report had made a strong pitch for holding of simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections all over the country, suggesting that it can be done in the near future.
The Election Commission has also extended its in principle support for the exercise. But most of the political parties which responded to the Standing Committee's questionnaire said the idea is "noble" but "difficult to implement".
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