Simultaneous polls will save time and money: Venkaiah

BJP president M. Venkaiah Naidu here today said he favoured simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in states where they are due this year, saying they would 8216;8216;save time and money8217;8217;.

Talking to reporters after a meeting with party general secretaries, Naidu said, 8216;8216;We would be happy if simultaneous elections are held in states going to polls this year though we will not force anyone to do so.8217;8217; Naidu was obviously referring to Maharashtra and Karnataka, which had held simultaneous polls the last time.

At the meeting, Naidu finalised the agenda for the party CMs8217; meeting scheduled for tomorrow. The BJP chief also welcomed the move by the North-East People8217;s Forum to join the NDA. He said the BJP would welcome any party into the coalition if it accepts Vajpayee as its leader.