Time has come for consultations on poll reforms: PM

Pitching for electoral reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said time had come to hold a wide consultations to see how the system can be improved in the context of role of money and holding of simultaneous polls.
He made these suggestions in his valedictory address to the party's National Council here after kicking off year-long celebrations of BJP ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay's birth anniversary, which will be observed by the central government as well as the saffron party.
"Time has come for a wide discussion on electoral reforms. There is a need to discuss reforms in the electoral system. What are the shortcomings in the electoral system, what is the role of money, the use of government machinery... How many kinds of burden the country faces due to various polls. People of many political parties tell me that something should be done about electoral reforms," Modi said.

He said these issues could be debated in the centenary birth year of Upadhyay.
He asked the party delegates, close to 1700 in numbers, to organise seminars in the Upadhyay's centenary birth year over the issue, saying "let there be churning and nectar come out".
The reforms should not be guided by fixed ideas, he said, adding it would not be good if they are carried on the basis of only Prime Minister's suggestions. "It should not happen."

Time has come to see to it what good can be added to the electoral system and what can be removed from it.

"We have to think how the rights of the common man can be strengthened and roots of democracy strengthened. If we can do it then it will go a long way in making democracy healthy," the Prime Minister said.
In the past, Modi has spoken in favour of holding the Lok Sabha and state assembly polls simultaneously as continuous cycle of elections hamper government's work.