India's cabinet accepts recommendation to hold simultaneous national, state elections

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's cabinet has accepted a recommendation to hold simultaneous elections to state assemblies and the national parliament, the information minister said on Wednesday, a move pushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve governance. A government-appointed panel had recommended in March that simultaneous elections in the world's most populous country will help increase transparency, but the move is contentious and will have to be approved by parliament. Simultaneous election will strengthen democracy, minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters, adding that the plan is supported by a large section of India's young population.