Analyze pros and cons of simultaneous polls: Meghalaya CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Thursday said political parties must analyse the pros and cons of holding simultaneous elections to assemblies and the Lok Sabha.

"The practical application of this whole concept, of this thinking process on how practically it can be implemented in the given context of the whole constitutional mandate or provision has to be looked at," Sangma told journalists.

On Wednesday, Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat said the Election Commission will be ready by September 2018 to hold simultaneous elections to state assemblies and the Lok Sabha.

"If there is a situation which calls for a mid-term poll as far as Parliament is concerned, then should we all go for mid-term poll in the states because the mandate is for five years," he said.

The veteran Congress leader said the proposal to have simultaneous polls would also require lots of long drawn engagement with all political parties.

--IANS

rrk/mr