MP CM for simultaneous polls, fixed terms, funding of parties

Advocating holding of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously and fixed terms for legislatures without the provision of mid-term dissolution, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today urged the President Pranab Mukherjee to take steps for this.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had said it would be desirable to hold all the elections at once.
"These days elections are always being held in one state or other. It has become a 24 hours job now for the ruling as well as other political parties, affecting development to a great extent," Chouhan said at the Fourth Retreat of Judges of Supreme Court at the National Judicial Academy (NJA) here.

"I urge the President to take steps so that elections of both the Parliament and state Assemblies are held simultaneously across the country once in five years. Fix the term of the house at five years and in case any leader of the house loses majority, then members should have the power to elect another leader. The house should not be dissolved before five years," he said.
Chouhan also called for state funding of political parties to curb the corruption and to "ensure transparency". "Otherwise those who pay for it will definitely look for ways to recover it," Chouhan said.

The Chief Minister also urged the Apex Court judges to come out with a solution like "pre-litigation mechanism" to reduce pendency and to provide relief in minor cases.
Earlier, welcoming the President and the judges, Chouhan highlighted the achievements of his government and invited them to attend the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain between April 22 and May 21.
Chief Justice of India T S Thakur and Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court A M Khanwilkar also addressed the function.