Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (Jan 20, 2004) favoured simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assemblies in States where they are due later this year.

"BJP would be happy if simultaneous elections are held in States going to polls this year, though we will not force anyone, for it is up to the ruling party in the States to decide on it," party president M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters in New Delhi after a day-long meeting with its general secretaries and office bearers of state units of Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.

He said Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu and Naveen Patnaik of Orissa had favoured simultaneous polls.

"The holding of simultaneous polls would not only help save time and money but also enable the concerned State Governments to concentrate on developmental work," Naidu said.