New Delhi: MP of the Odisha ruling BJD Pinaki Mishra met Election Commission of India (ECI) here today and urged that Odisha should also be included in the speculated early general elections on Wednesday.
In a letter to the ECI, Mishra said, “In the event any decision is taken by Central Government to pre-pone Lok Sabha elections, before they are scheduled to be held in 2019, we would request you to make adequate preparations to hold elections to Odisha Assembly simultaneously, so as to save the extra expenditure of almost Rs 1000 crore, which a upcoming state like Odisha can ill afford.”
‘Expenditure incurred on items of common concern to the Central and the State Governments like expenditure on regular election establishment, preparation and revision go electoral rolls etc., is shared on 50:50 basis irrespective of whether such expenditure is incurred in connection with the election to the LS or state legislatures. Even if to LS, expenditure towards law and order maintenance is born by respective state governments only,” the letter further mentioned.
“While Centre is planning to hold simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and 11 State Assemblies, Odisha must be included in the ‘one nation, one poll’ proposal,” said the Puri MP later, in a statement to the media.
He said separate election would cost around Rs 1000 crore to the State exchequer whereas the expenditure is shared by the Centre and the respective State Government in case of simultaneous elections.
Mishra said early poll will help avoid a long model code period that affects developmental works of the State Government. The ECI has assured that the party’s proposal would be given due weightage, he added.
Ms Kalinga