By IANS,
Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Sing Chouhan Friday sought cooperation from all political parties and social groups in reaching consensus of electoral reforms, such as fixed terms for legislatures and simultaneous elections to parliament and state assemblies.
In separate letters to legislators, members of parliament, national leaders of various political parties and social activists, Chouhan suggested that elctions to both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies be held simultaneously and the elected houses be run mandatorily for full term of five years.
He has also laid stress on holding direct election of the prime minister by the electorate and state funding for election expenses of all recognised political parties.
He noted that till 1970 both thwe Lok Sabha and state assembly elections were held simultaneously and elected governments completed their respective terms.
“But later Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections were held separately and sometimes situation of mid-term polls also arose which was a matter of concern,” he said.
He contended this led to “extraordinary expenses which double up when Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections are held separately while on the other hand, a parallel black money economy is also on the rise due to use of money and muscle power in the elections”.
“Moreover, the code of conduct imposed time and again due to various elections affects public welfare programmes as well as development. Also, fractured mandates have given rise to compromise chief ministers and sometimes even prime ministers, due to which the country had to face ill-effects.”
He urged the legislators and MPS to evolve a consensus on the issue in their respective parties and appealed to them to add their own suggestions for electoral reforms.
In his letter to social activists, Chouhan urged them to evolve a consensus over electoral reforms in their respective areas of influence.