Ahmedabad, April 30 (Inditop) Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani said here Thursday that there was a need to amend the Indian Constitution to assure a fixed term for legislatures and enhance people’s participation in the voting process.
Advani cast his ballot in Shahpur in the Ahmedabad (West) Lok Sabha constituency at about 9.30 a.m. He was accompanied to the polling station by his wife Kamla Advani.
They could not vote in Gandhinagar, from where the BJP leader is contesting, as their names were not in the voters’ list there post delimitation.
“We must amend the Constitution and have fixed term of five years for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (state legislative assembly). We follow the British pattern where legislatures can be dissolved even before they complete their term. This doesn’t suit us and we need to change it,” Advani told reporters after casting his vote.
Advani said that one of the reasons responsible for low voter turnout in the ongoing general elections is that it is being held in summer. Another reason is that there is one election or the other every second year.
“Earlier Lok Sabha elections were held in February, but now elections are held in summers when the temperature is almost 43 degrees. I feel if the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections are held at one time and on one date then it will enhance the participation of people,” he said.
He added that after independence doubts were being cast on India becoming a successful democratic republic.
“The world had been proved wrong and I am very happy that I and my wife have come to vote,” Advani said.
He expressed confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would come to power after the ongoing general elections.
“I am sure that BJP will emerge as the single largest party and NDA as the biggest coalition in Lok Sabha will form the government,” Advani said.
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