New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday sought to reignite a debate on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assemblies as he felt that political parties privately favour the idea but are tentative in public.
Speaking at a ‘Diwali Milan‘ for journalists organised at the BJP headquarters, he said he had spoken about the matter earlier as well but a discussion over it had come to a stop.
“It is imperative to decide whether such an exercise is feasible or not,” Modi said.
A decision in this regard cannot be imposed by the government, he insisted, adding that it was necessary to give an impetus to a discussion.
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“Debate in social life has come to a still. It will be good if the media does something. For example there is this issue of holding the Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously. All political parties privately tell me that something should be done about this continuous process of elections.
“I spoke about it but noted that some political parties are tentative in speaking strongly about it. The Election Commission wants good senior officers as observers and they are roped in the electoral process involving other states. It also results in economic burden. Nobody can impose it. It should not be imposed,” Modi said.
Whether this is a doable exercise should be discussed, he said. Even if this is not, it should be decided but there must be a discussion, he added.
The Prime Minister also praised the media for contributing constructively to public causes and cited the example ‘Swachh Bharat’ scheme.
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Cleanliness never received a due place in our society, he said, adding that now states are competing in this regard. Three states have been declared open defecation free and he would like to praise the media’s contribution in this regard, Modi said.
Earlier, BJP President Amit Shah said the country had developed on all fronts under Modi and the doubt that existed about over its prospects in 2014 have gone away.
“Nobody in the world has a doubt about India being the leading countries in the world,” he said.