Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said “one nation, one election is a good idea but not implementable now.” Earlier too, Mr. Kumar had expressed similar view on the issue.
“Holding simultaneous elections to all State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha would not be possible with the coming general elections … it is is a good idea but now it is not implementable,” Mr. Kumar told presspersons.
In the past, he had advocated for the simultaneous elections claiming that it would reduce the “expenditure and machinery” involved in conducting separate polls.
“But, if you ask me it should be implemented from the next Lok Sabha election, I think, it is not possible,” he had said.
Mr. Kumar’s party Janata Dal(U) is a ruling ally of the BJP in Bihar.
Earlier, while speaking at a function for giving monetary benefits to SC/ST and EBC students preparing for competitive examinations, Mr. Kumar said, “money will be transferred directly into accounts of the eligible candidates and the entire amount will be paid in a single instalment.”
Under the scheme, those who qualify in the Bihar Public Services Commission (Preliminary) exam would be given ₹50,000, while for clearing the preliminary test of the Union Public Service Commission ₹1 lakh would be given, he said.
This facility to the students would be granted under the Mukhyamantri Anusuchit Jati Evam Janjati Chhatravas Yojana Scheme, which was approved by the State Cabinet few months ago.
