New Delhi, Aug 04: Supporting Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's idea of synchronising elections, BJP today said it was ready for early Lok Sabha polls. "We are ready to face the elections anytime. The Lok Sabha and assembly elections could be held February next though it is not yet certain. Of course there is need for a national debate on this issue," party spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters here. He said the party supported the idea of holding elections to Lok Sabha, assemblies and local bodies simultaneously as suggested by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani. "The Deputy Prime Minister has only spoken of the desirability of holding them simultaneously," he said.


It was vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat who had first floated the idea of simultaneous elections as this would cut down on the cost of holding elections separately.

However, Malhotra said the suggestion that all elections be held simultaneously required a constitution amendment and therefore there was need to evolve a consensus on the issue.
"There is need to have a consensus among all political parties for the holding of simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha assemblies and local bodies as this needs a constitution amendment," he said.

Bureau Report