Nitish supports Modi's simultaneous poll idea

New Delhi: Coming out in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clarion call for holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and State legislative elections, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said that he was in favour of this idea for a long time.

"If the elections would be held simultaneously throughout the country, then the expenditure on elections would be reduced and the elected government would get more time to work," Kumar said in reply to a question asked by Millennium Post.

Kumar further added that the implementation of simultaneous elections would only be possible after everyone's consent.

Clearing the air on early assembly election in Bihar, Kumar said, "The JD(U) supports the idea of conducting all elections in one go, but the Bihar assembly elections would be held as per the schedule. There should be no confusion over the timing of next election in the state."

Kumar, who is in the national capital, called on Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and discussed about different road projects worth over Rs 50,000 crore. During their meeting, Gadkari urged Kumar to push vehicles with alternative fuel such as ethanol in Bihar and also make farmers aware about the benefits of producing ethanol.

Terming ethanol as next generation fuel, Gadkari said, "Use of ethanol as primary fuel for running vehicles could transform the farm economy of the country. India has already set standards for using of ethanol and other biofuels."

"We've asked the petroleum ministry to make ethanol readily available," Gadkari said while unveiling the Bajaj made three-wheeler and motor bike that run on both ethanol on petrol (flexi fuel).

"Flexible fuel will not only curb pollution but will give a huge push to the farm sector.

Farmers can make ethanol from rice bran and sugarcane waste. It will be a cost effective solution and an alternate mode of income," Gadkari said in the presence of Kumar.