M A I N   N E W S

Lyngdoh sceptical of simultaneous elections

Hyderabad, August 9
Continuing his opposition to the idea of simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly poll, Chief Election Commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh today said such a course would lead to ‘substandard elections’ and inadequate police deployment, giving scope for “cheating and unfair polling.”

“We have some notorious states, each needing about 400 companies of paramilitary forces (for polling duties). At no stage did the Home Ministry provide us 400 companies at a time,” he told reporters here.

Mr Lyngdoh said constitutional changes would be needed if the country is to opt for simultaneous polls.

Even while agreeing that simultaneous poll might help reduce the cost of elections, he said it would lead to substandard elections.— PTI