New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suggested the idea of holding simultaneous elections to panchayat bodies, assemblies and Parliament at a meeting of BJP national office-bearers and state unit chiefs on March 19.
According to party sources, Prime Minister expressed his concern over time and money being spent on these elections separately.
He told the party leaders that these elections come with a 'model code of conduct' which not only put all development programmes and activities on hold but also affects the pace of governance.
"Modi said that such frequent elections also affect the functioning of bureaucracy and there should be simultaneous elections to panchayat bodies, assemblies and Parliament to save time and money," party sources said.
It was learnt that the government has also shared the idea during the all-party meeting with other political leaders ahead of the Budget session.
"Holding the panchayat bodies, assemblies and Parliament election together will reduce the expense, which could be used in developmental related work," Modi reportedly told the party leaders.
The idea of holding polls together was first floated ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in the BJP manifesto.
In December 2015, the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice too suggested of holding polls together. "A solution will be found to reduce the frequency of elections which relieve people and government machinery, tired of frequent electoral processes", it said.
The report on ‘Feasibility of Holding Simultaneous Elections to the House of People (Lok Sabha) and State Legislative Assemblies’, which was tabled in Parliament further suggested, "It is important for India to hold polls together, if it wants to compete with other nations.'
According the Election Commission nearly Rs 4,500 crore is usually required to conduct Lok Sabha and assemblies elections.
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