BJD's view on simultaneous elections to be placed before Law

Terming the idea of holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies as the "brainchild" of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, BJD MP Pinaki Mishra today said the party's view on the matter would be placed before the Law Commission.

BJD fully supports the proposal for holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha as party president Naveen Patnaik was the first to come out with the idea and put it into practice in 2004, the Puri MP told reporters.

Mishra said the party has been called by the Law Commission for a meeting on July 10 and he will present a written representation on BJDs view point on the matter.

"The idea (simultaneous polls) was mooted by Naveen Patnaik. He took a bold step by implementing the same in 2004. The Chief Minister is the originator of the idea and therefore the party whole heartedly supports it," he said.

Assembly polls in Odisha have been held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections since 2004. Though assembly election in Odisha was due in 2005, it was advanced by a year and held in 2004 along with Lok Sabha polls in a bid to synchronise both, he said.

Patnaik had on June 26 announced BJD's support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal for holding simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and state assemblies saying elections throughout the year disturb development works.

The Law Commission had invited political parties and other stakeholders for consultations and sharing of views on the practicality of conducting simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and assemblies.

Modi, while addressing the governing council of NITI Aayog, had called for a "widespread" debate on holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies and said if implemented, it would result in savings.

The NITI Aayog had last year suggested synchronised, two-phase Lok Sabha and Assembly polls from 2024.