Centre considering to align state polls with Lok Sabha elections: Report

The government is thinking about aligning the state elections to be held in November-December 2018 with Lok Sabha elections.  The general elections, due in April 2019, could be preponed. 

Discussions, currently being held behind doors, are exploring possibilities on how to conduct them over a period of time, if not in one go, said a Times of India report.

According to a view reiterated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the idea is to reduce the financial burden and help conduct elections over a certain frame of time that doesn't disturb governance at state levels. 

To make it happen, the government is looking at a statutory provision that allows elections to be held within six months of being due. This can be introduced by the Election Commission and doesn't require any amendment to the Constitution.

Former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash C Kashyap and a group of secretaries are a part of the core group discussing the matter.
To align Lok Sabha polls with state elections and for this procuring a political consensus across the country might be a challenge for the centre.

Sources suggest Lok Sabha 2019 elections can be aligned with state elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan. Except for Mizoram, BJP or BJP alliance is ruling in office in other states. Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha state polls could be aligned with the Lok Sabha Elections if incumbent parties agree.