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Naidu for broad consensus on simultaneous polls

Taking forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s suggestion, the Centre is moving towards evolving a broad consensus on the proposal of holding simultaneous elections to Parliament and Assemblies. 

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said if the proposal is implemented, it will help reduce expenditure and diversion of energies. The public is in favour of this and so are political leaders but it can be done only by broad consensus among political parties, he contended.

Naidu also said that ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogan is not compulsory and has not been imposed on anyone through any government order, but it is an emotive issue and sensibilities of all should be taken care. “People want and I also personally strongly feel that Parliament and Assembly elections should be held on the same day. Within that one week, local body elections including cooperative elections should be held,” he said.

“All elections should be completed within a fortnight so that there is time and focus and attention on developmental issues… Let the debate go on. The Standing Committee on Law and Justice also made a strong recommendation in favour of the simultaneous elections. I am for simultaneous elections. The government also is in favour of simultaneous election. 

But at the same time, you cannot force it without evolving a broad consensus,” Naidu said at an interaction with journalists at Indian Women’s Press Corps.
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