Simultaneous Polls: BJD To Place Opinion Before Law Commission On July 10

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will place its opinion on the proposal for holding simultaneous elections before the Law Commission on July 10.

“The Law Commission has asked us to be present at his office in New Delhi at 3 pm on Tuesday. I will submit a written representation citing my party’s point of view,” senior BJD leader and Puri MP Pinaki Mishra told mediapersons here on Sunday.

He said the idea of holding simultaneous elections was originally mooted by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in 2004. “He had taken 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 Elections. Since the chief minister is the originator of this idea, we wholeheartedly support this proposal of the Law Commission,” Mishra pointed out.

Notably, Chairman of the Law Commission BS Chauhan in a letter to the chief minister on June 26 had sought his opinion on the proposal.

“The Commission is of the view that any major law reform 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 Law Commission later in the day, the chief minister had said that 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 had pointed out.