Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for "widespread" debate on holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies saying such a move will result in financial savings.
Modi was addressing the fourth meeting of the governing council of NITI Aayog whcih was attended by chief ministers of almost all states.
Also Read
- ‘Stone pelting, beheading of soldiers would have continued if Cong was in power: Modi
- ‘Everyone will regret it…’: PM Modi accuses opposition of spreading lies on electoral bonds
- What the fish! Tejashwi Yadav's meal on helicopter snowballs into major political controversy
- Congress’s poll manifesto bears ‘imprint of Muslim League’, says PM Modi
- Fighting big battle against corrupt, won't be intimidated by attacks: PM Modi at Meerut rally
The Union government has been toying with the idea of holding simultaneous elections for quite sometime now. "The prime minister called for widespread debate and consultations on simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas, keeping in view various aspects such as the resulting financial savings and consequent better utilisation of resources," an official release said.
NITI Aayog had, last year, suggested synchronised, two-phase Lok Sabha and assembly polls from 2024 so as to ensure minimum 'campaign-mode' disruption to governance.
Speaking on various aspects of the economy, Modi said that the world expects India to become a five trillion dollar economy soon.
PM Modi encouraged states to give fresh ideas to the finance commission for incentivising outcome-based allocation, and expenditure correction.
Welcoming the constructive discussion and suggestions made by various chief ministers, PM Modi assured the gathering that these suggestions will be seriously considered in the course of decision making.
He also directed the government's think tank to follow up with the states on the actionable points made by them within three months.
"On the lines of the 115 aspirational districts identified by NITI Aayog, states can define their own parameters to identify 20 per cent of the total blocks in the state as aspirational blocks," the prime minister said.
He encouraged the states to boost ease of doing business saying NITI Aayog should call a meeting with all the states for the same. He said "ease of living" for the common man was also the need of the hour, and states should take initiatives in this regard.
Speaking on the issue of environment raised by chief ministers, PM Modi urged all states to use LED bulbs in their government buildings, official residences and streets. He suggested that this could be implemented within a definite timeframe.
The prime minister called upon chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh to work together to make recommendations on a coordinated policy approach to the two subjects of "agriculture and MNREGA," including both pre-sowing, and post-harvest phases.