BJP welcomes simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha, assemblies

Bengaluru, Oct 7: The Karnataka BJP has welcomed holding simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and assemblies. The Election Commission of India had informed the Centre that it will be “logistically equipped” by September 2018 to hold simultaneous polls.

BJP state spokesperson S Suresh Kumar told reporters in Bengaluru on Friday that parties across the political spectrum can hold a comprehensive discussion on putting in place a system of holding simultaneous polls and come to a unanimous decision in this regard.

Era of mid-term elections

The next Assembly elections in the state will have to be held by May next year, while the current Lok Sabha has a tenure till May 2019.

Kumar pointed out that Assembly elections in a majority of the states were held simultaneously with Lok Sabha elections till 1967. Then the era of mid-term elections started. Kumar said simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and the state Assembly in Karnataka were also held in 1999 and 2004.

He said in the first phase, all state assemblies whose tenure is nearing an end can be tagged along with the Lok Sabha elections.

He said doubts and apprehensions can be resolved through discussions. All political parties can be taken into confidence before taking a final decision.

Parivarthan Rath Yatra

BJP state General Secretary and former minister Shobha Karandlaje has been appointed as convenor of the BJP’s Nava Karnataka Parivarthan Rath Yatra.

Shobha is known for her organisational skills and has looked after the logistics of several political rallies. The Parivarthan Yatra, to expose the “misdeeds” of the state government is the state BJP’s most ambitious yet.

Suresh Kumar said the yatra for southern districts of the state will be launched on November 2 in Bengaluru. For northern districts, the yatra will be launched in Hubballi later.