‘Simultaneous polls possible in 2024’

MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister Sudhir Mungantiwar Thursday ruled out the possibility of simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assemblies polls in 2019, but said it could be happen in 2024 if political parties reach a consensus.

He added that besides the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, elections to municipal corporations, municipal councils and zilla parishads (ZPS) could also be held simultaneously if there was a consensus among the parties.

Mungantiwar is the chairman of the two-member committee set up earlier this year by the Maharashtra government to examine the feasibility of simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, and send a report to the Centre.

The first meeting of the committee was held on July 31, while the second one was conducted on Wednesday (December 5). Speaking to select journalists here, Mungantiwar said, “There is no plan by the Centre to hold simultaneous elections in 2019. But it can take place in 2024 if political parties reach a consensus. The committee formed on the issue will have to give its suggestions if simultaneous elections could be held in 2024.”

The state finance minister added that the committee will consider three major factors.

“We spend a huge amount of time, money and manpower on conducting polls. It has been noticed that somewhere in a state, there is an election code of conduct in operation for some election...” he said.