Aligning national elections with state polls faces significant hurdles as the move — strongly backed by PM Narendra Modi — may need amendments to not less than five Articles of the Constitution, including those relating to duration and dissolution of the Lok Sabha and assemblies. While giving its views after getting advice on the matter from the Election Commission, an internal note of the Union law ministry has spoken about the constitutional challenges to paving the way for simultaneous polls — an issue raised by Modi as also the President. Though the EC has supported simultaneous polls, its riders are significant, even as the EC said terms of state legislatures could be extended, or curtailed, to coincide with LS polls. Article 83, dealing with duration of Houses of Parliament may need amendment.

Aligning national elections with state polls faces significant hurdles as the move — strongly backed by PM Narendra Modi — may need amendments to not less than five Articles of the Constitution, including those relating to duration and dissolution of the Lok Sabha and assemblies. While giving its views after getting advice on the matter from the Election Commission, an internal note of the Union law ministry has spoken about the constitutional challenges to paving the way for simultaneous polls — an issue raised by Modi as also the President. Though the EC has supported simultaneous polls, its riders are significant, even as the EC said terms of state legislatures could be extended, or curtailed, to coincide with LS polls. Article 83, dealing with duration of Houses of Parliament may need amendment.