Patna: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday flagged as difficult to implement two pet ideas of the Narendra Modi government: uniform civil code, and simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

"Making a uniform civil code is not such an easy thing," he said on the sidelines of his Lok Samvad (public interaction programme) at 1 Aney Marg. "Much dialogue and talks are needed for the purpose. It cannot be made until there is unanimity about it among various religions and their sentiments."

A lot of changes would be needed for a uniform civil code, and many provisions in even Hindu civil laws will have to be removed.

The BJP government at the Centre has been pushing the issue at various platforms. The central government had in 2017 sought views of the state governments on it via the Law Commission.

"We have previously expressed our views on the universal civil code as a government and as apolitical party," Nitish added.

The Bihar government had in January 2017 refused to accept a questionnaire by the Law Commission that sought opinion on the uniform civil code, and had cautioned against an attempt to impose it without taking the consent of various religious groups, including minorities.

Later, the Janata Dal United had reiterated the state government's stand.

On simultaneous state and central elections, Nitish said: "I am in favour of combined Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, and have been advocating it for the last several years. However, at present there is no situation for this. Forget 2019, I don't think it would be possible to hold simultaneous elections even in 2024."

Various constitutional provisions need to be changed, he pointed out, without which any government, central or state, could not be reduced or the Houses could be dissolved.

Nitish said he was also in favour of state funding of elections to curb misuse of money in polls and to bring transparency in electoral politics.