New Delhi, Aug 02: Congress today reacted sharply to Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's proposal for synchronising Lok Sabha and assembly elections and virtually dared the BJP-led coalition to advance Lok Sabha elections to November when assembly polls in five states are scheduled. "If Advani is so keen on synchronisation, his government should advance Lok Sabha polls to November, when assembly polls of five states are scheduled,” party spokesman S Jaipal Reddy told reporters when asked his reaction on the issue.

Stating that Advani's proposal was in conformity with his style of indulging in "semi-academic speculation", he said that the proposal was not considered in the cabinet or in the NDA.

"Advani keeps floating these trial balloons without ever following them up with concrete action or proposition,” Reddy said adding that proof of a proposal lay in political will and not in loud thinking".
Earlier in the day, Advani said that the government was holding informal consultations with NDA allies and Election Commission members on synchronising Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

He said that five years in government "have made us intensely conscious" of the fact that the ruling party remaining in a continuous election mode was a "serious handicap" for good governance.

Bureau Report