Pune: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today made a strong pitch for holding simultaneous polls across India to avoid “deviation, dilution and diversion” of the public work.

Venkaiah made the remarks at a public event here. “Frequent elections in the country is a matter of concern, because the moment elections come, everyone has to follow the pre-line formula,” he said.

“Election, selection and correction and the model code of conduct for one and half months. That is why will be in the interest of the country to have one broad simultaneous election across the country within 15 days so that there is no deviation, no dilution and no diversion of the public work,” Venkaiah said in his address.

The Elections Commission recently announced the dates for Assembly polls in Maharashtra.

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said the election will take place in a single phase on 21 October.

The counting of votes will take place on 24 October. The term of the 288-seat Maharashtra Legislative Assembly ends on 9 November.