Pilot: Clubbing polls can help save costs

Sep 23, 2013 |

Age Correspondent

Underlining the importance of electoral reforms in the country, Union minister Sachin Pilot said that holding various polls, including those for Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, can help in saving on expenses to the exchequer.

Mr Pilot, a Lok Sabha member from Rajasthan, emphasised that a transparent and level-playing field for conduct of elections would be “good”.
“I am also of the view that the amount of time spent on elections are huge. We must try and club some of the elections together. There is absolute waste of money in different elections from panchayat level to Lok Sabha polls,” the corporate affairs minister told PTI in an interview.
Going by estimates, thousands of crores of rupees are spent on elections in the country, while costs get multiplied because of different elections, including those to Lok Sabha, state Assemblies and other levels, being conducted at different times.
“The elections should be held one day and at one time to the extent possible. That’s my personal view, but at least some elections must be put together. May be we can have state elections and Lok Sabha polls together,” Mr Pilot said.

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