Even though the law panel is examining the feasibility of holding simultaneous polls, reports say that the Assembly elections to 11 states are likely to be held along with the Lok Sabha elections next year.
Even though the Law Commission is examining the feasibility of holding simultaneous polls, reports say that the Assembly elections to 11 states are likely to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls next year.
According to reports, BJP is exploring the possibility of deferring assembly elections of some states by a few months and advancing some others to ensure they are held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls.
The tenure of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh assemblies will expire in January, while Haryana, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra will end later next year. The tenure of the assembly in the Congress-ruled Mizoram is ending in December this year.
"States of Andra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Bihar and Jammu and Kashmir are expected to face elections next year," reported ABP News.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission is focusing on general election and a few state polls. "The poll panel has ordered an additional 17.4 lakh voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) units.13.95 lakh ballot units and 9.3 lakh control units based on requirement for the LS polls and elections in the five states of Andhra Pradesh. Telangana. Odisha. Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh".
Speaking to an English daily, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said that the shortfall would have to be worked out based on the EVMs and VVPATs available at the time" The government is mulling convening an all-party meeting on the issue after the Law Commission recommends a legal framework on the matter.
Seeking to evolve a consensus on holding simultaneous election to Lok Sabha and state assemblies, the government is mulling convening an all-party meeting on the issue after the Law Commission recommends a legal framework on the matter. Political parties are divided on the issue of holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously with some supporting the idea and others opposing it.
Besides NDA constituent Shiromani Akali Dal, the AIADMK, the Samajwadi Party and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti have supported it. The Congress, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, DMK, Telugu Desam Party, Left parties and the JD(S) have opposed the proposal. The Congress had met the commission top brass recently where it had opposed the concept of simultaneous polls.
A paper by the Law Commission had recently recommended holding the Lok Sabha and assembly polls in two phases beginning 2019. On Monday, BJP president Amit Shah wrote to the Law Commission stating his party was in favour of simultaneous elections, saying it would curb expenditure and ensure the nation is not in "election mode" throughout the year.
With agency inputs
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