Jaipur, Jan. 26 -- Governor Haribhau Bagade on Sunday said that India's democracy is firmly rooted in a rich culture of tolerance and emphasised the need to adopt the system of simultaneous elections to reduce the high cost of elections. Addressing a state-level programme on the occasion of National Voters' Day, Bagade stated that the money saved through a mechanism of simultaneous elections could be utilised for national development. He also called upon all stakeholders to make collective and effective efforts to increase voter turnout in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Stressing the importance of participatory democracy, the governor said that continuous and joint efforts are required to further strengthen India's democratic and constitutional framework. He also appealed to citizens to enhance awareness about the importance of voting. Bagade noted that the introduction of Electronic Voting Machines has made voting simpler, more transparent and more accessible. He praised the work of Booth Level Officers across the state for their contribution to voter list revision. htc...