Live
- Chanchalguda Jail Officials Say They Haven't Received Bail Papers Yet, Allu Arjun May Stay in Jail Tonight
- BJP leaders present evidence of illegal voters in Delhi, urge EC for swift action
- Exams will not be cancelled: BPSC chairman
- Nagesh Trophy: Karnataka, T.N win in Group A; Bihar, Rajasthan triumph in Group B
- YS Jagan condemns the arrest of Allu Arjun
- Economic and digital corridors to maritime connectivity, India and Italy building vision for future, says Italian Ambassador
- SMAT 2024: Patidar's heroics guide Madhya Pradesh to final after 13 years
- CCPA issues notices to 17 entities for violating direct selling rules
- Mamata expresses satisfaction over speedy conviction in minor girl rape-murder case
- Transparent Survey Process for Indiramma Housing Scheme Directed by District Collector
Simultaneous polls can reduce expense: Prez
Simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State assemblies can help reduce difficulties in terms of expenditure and management, President Pranab Mukherjee said and asked the Election Commission to take the initiative in bringing political parties on one platform to discuss the issue.
​New Delhi: Simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State assemblies can help reduce difficulties in terms of expenditure and management, President Pranab Mukherjee said and asked the Election Commission to take the initiative in bringing political parties on one platform to discuss the issue.
"If political parties arrive at a consensus to make amendment to the Constitution and if the initiative is taken by the Election Commission, as they have earned the reputation of impartiality...I do believe that if political parties seriously agree on this issue with the help of EC, it may be possible," he said.
BJP veteran L K Advani, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Mukherjee have supported this idea in the past. After the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law supported simultaneous polls in its December, 2015 report, the government had sought the views of EC in this regard.
The Commission had made it clear that it would need nearly Rs 10 thousand crore, more EVMs and more security personnel for the massive exercise. It had also pointed to the amendments the Constitution would require for the purpose.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealed to the voters in Punjab to bring back the ruling SAD-BJP government for accelerated development of the state, saying Congress is a "sinking ship".
The SAD-BJP government headed by CM Parkash Singh Badal has done a "tremendous and remarkable work for the upliftment of the state", he said, as he appealed to voters to vote for the ruling coalition for "further accelerated development of the state".
Rajnath praised Punjab and Punjabis, saying the state is famous for its brave jawans and hard-working farmers who meet the country's food requirements. BJP's Arunesh Kumar is contesting from Mukerian.
