‘Naveen mooted idea of simultaneous polls’

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Bhubaneswar: Supporting the Law Commission’s proposal for simultaneous polls in the country, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Sunday said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is the one who had mooted the idea originally.
Speaking to mediapersons here Sunday, senior BJD leader and Puri MP Pinaki Mishra said, “In 2004, CM Naveen Patnaik took such unprecedented and bold step by announcing the Assembly elections after dissolving it a year before the expiry of its term and clubbing it with the Lok Sabha elections.” He pointed out that Naveen is the ‘originator’ of the idea.
The BJD will place its opinion on the proposal for holding simultaneous elections before the Commission July 10.
“The Law Commission has asked us to be present at its office in New Delhi at 3pm Tuesday. I will submit a written representation citing my party’s point of view,” Mishra told the reporters.
Notably, Chairman of the Law commission BS Chauhan in a letter to the CM June 26 sought the latter’s opinion on the proposal.
“The Commission is of the view that major law reforms must be undertaken after taking the stakeholders and the general public into confidence. The Commission appreciates that the impact of holding simultaneous elections directly bears upon the public of the country and then the political parties. While the Commission has reached out to the public already, it would like to solicit the views of the political parties as well. I am sure, understanding the importance of the matter, you will communicate your concurrence at the earliest to the Commission so that the schedule and other details of the interaction could be communicated to you,” Chauhan had stated in his letter.
Briefing mediapersons after receiving the letter from the Commission later in the day, the CM said his party supports the appeal of the Prime Minister. “Having elections throughout the year disturbs the working process. Therefore, we support the Prime Minister’s appeal for simultaneous elections. This will serve the country well,” he added.