Advani urges EC to look into gap between voting & counting day

"In Gujarat, electors and candidates won't have to wait for too long a period as the results would be out after two days. But my concern is for the voters and candidates in Himachal Pradesh," Advani, the Lok Sabha MP from Gandhinagar, told mediapersons here after casting his vote.

"They have been waiting for a long period. I don't think that electoral results in one state would affect voting patterns or result in another state. This is one area I urge the Election Commission of India (ECI) should look into," Advani said.

He further said, "I had a discussion with the Prime Minister regarding holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously in all states. What is happening in the last few years is that every year, some state goes to polls."

"But, this is not what the founding fathers of the Constitution of India had envisaged as they wanted elections to be held after every five years," he said,

However, Advani said he was confident that the saffron party would come to power with a clear majority.

Assembly elections were held in Himachal Pradesh on November 4 while Gujarat voted on December 13 and the second phase of polling is underway today.

Counting of votes in both the states is slated for December 20.