The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday told the Law Commission, during a meeting held at Nirvachan Sadan, that simultaneous polls are a “desirable” and “achievable” goal. Reportedly, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) OP Rawat and his colleagues Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavasa reiterated their support for holding simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies and informed the members of the Law Commission, Justice BS Chauhan and three others, about the same.

If sources are to be believed, the meeting was called after the Law Commission wrote to the EC on April 24 for its views on holding simultaneous polls. Both the bodies reportedly deliberated upon a list of 20 questions but the prime focus was on the issues affecting the functioning of government’s when Model Code of Conduct is in force.

Apart from this, the Law Commission also asked the Election Commission to list out ‘practical difficulties’ in holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies and also sought its views on the proposed legal framework to carry out the exercise.

On logistical issues, including the number of polling stations needed in 2019,the poll watchdog said it would provide the details to the Law Commission in the coming days, a report in PTI said.

In 2015, the poll panel was asked by the government about the feasibility of simultaneous polls and the commission made it clear that it would require amendment to the Constitution and election laws and would require certain number of EVMs, polling personnel, Rs 9000 core besides other logistics.