CEC says no to simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls

Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat on Thursday ruled out the possibility of holding simultaneous elections in the state assemblies along with Lok  Sabha polls .  Rawat said a legal framework is needed to be in place for holding such simultaneous polls.

The Lok  Sabha elections are due in April-May next year while assembly polls of Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram are scheduled  later this year.

Rawat said, "The lawmakers will take at least a year to frame a law that can be enforceable. This process takes time.  As soon as the bill to amend the constitution is ready we (the Election Commission) will know that things are now moving),"

His comments also come against the backdrop of BJP president Amit  Shah's recent call for a "healthy and open debate" among stakeholders for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.

To a query on complaints of failure of Electronic Voting Machines Rawat said in most part of India the understanding of EVM system isn't comprehensive enough.