By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 8, 2018:

BJD Lok Sabha MP Pinaki Mishra said holding simultaneous elections was first proposed by his party President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

“The Law Commission has asked us to be present at his office in New Delhi on Tuesday (July 10). I will present a written representation on the party’s view point. The chief minister took a bold step by going for simultaneous polls in 2004. The Chief Minister is the originator of the idea and therefore the party supports it,” Mishra said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the Law Day Celebrations on 25-26 November 2018 sought a constructive discussion on the subject of holding of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the State Legislatures. Patnaik had lent his support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for simultaneous elections.

The Law Commission has invited all the national and recognised state political parties to hold consultations on Saturday and Sunday on the practicality of conducting simultaneous polls.

The Commission has prepared a draft paper on “Simultaneous Elections – Constitutional and Legal Perspectives” and has sought opinions of “all stakeholders” including political parties, constitutional experts, bureaucrats and academicians on the paper before finalising its report and sending it to the government.