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What Is ‘One Nation, One Election’? Pros And Cons Explained

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A committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind has been established by the government to investigate the feasibility of implementing “one nation, one election.” This development occurred on Friday, following the government’s announcement of a special session of Parliament scheduled between September 18 and 22, with the specific agenda being kept confidential.

What is ‘one nation, one election’?

The “One Nation, One Election” concept in India seeks to synchronise the elections for both the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s Parliament) and all state assemblies. The objective is to conduct these elections concurrently, either on a single day or within a designated timeframe.

Over time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently advocated for the concept of synchronised Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. The choice to assign this responsibility to Kovind emphasises the government’s commitment as multiple elections draw near.

Here’s an old video of PM Modi stressing the need of ‘One Nation, One Election’:

Assembly elections are scheduled to take place in five states in November-December, followed by the Lok Sabha elections in May-June of the following year. Nevertheless, the recent actions taken by the government have raised the potential of rescheduling both the general elections and certain state elections that are currently planned to coincide with the Lok Sabha contest.

Benefits of ‘one nation, one election’

One of the primary advantages of ‘One Nation, One Election’ is the reduction in the expenses associated with conducting elections, as each separate election demands substantial financial resources.

Simultaneous elections would alleviate the strain on administrative and security forces, who would otherwise be engaged in election duties multiple times.

According to reports, the implementation of ‘One Nation, One Election’ would allow the government to concentrate more on governance rather than constantly being in election mode, which often obstructs policy implementation.

Simultaneous elections, as suggested by the Law Commission, are expected to boost voter turnout since it would be more convenient for people to cast multiple ballots at once.

Drawbacks of ‘one nation, one election’

The implementation of ‘One Nation, One Election’ would necessitate amendments to the Constitution and other legal frameworks. This concept would require a constitutional amendment followed by approval from state assemblies. It’s not an entirely novel idea; it was attempted four times in the 1950s and 60s. However, it’s worth noting that India had fewer states and a smaller voting population during those attempts.

Furthermore, there is a concern that national issues could overshadow regional concerns, potentially influencing the electoral outcomes at the state level.

Achieving consensus among all political parties presents a significant challenge, given that opposition parties have expressed their objections to ‘One Nation One Election.’

Crime

MMRDA declares airport-adjacent structure illegal; Kirit Somaiya demands immediate demolition

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Mumbai, Sep 10: Tensions have escalated near Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Terminal 2) after the Maharashtra Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) confirmed that a religious structure operating near the high-security zone lacks statutory planning permissions and is unauthorised.

Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirit Somaiya has alleged a deliberate attempt at unauthorised land occupation — characterising the structure as “Land Jihad” — and has pressed state authorities and site operators to initiate criminal action against the trustees and individuals responsible.

Following complaints regarding unauthorised construction near sensitive airport land, MMRDA verified that no official approvals, building sanctions, or permissions were ever granted for the religious structure.

MMRDA has issued formal notices to Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) directing the immediate removal and demolition of the unauthorised structure to ensure the perimeter remains clear.

Somaiya has formally requested both MMRDA and MIAL to go beyond physical clearance by registering a First Information Report (FIR) against the managing trustees and individuals associated with the illegal construction.

The controversy highlights ongoing scrutiny surrounding unauthorised encroachments adjacent to critical national infrastructure. Officials note that unregulated structures near VIP corridors, taxi parking lanes, and terminal facilities pose significant security hazards.

The matter aligns with previous judicial observations where courts have emphasised that public safety and secure zones near international hubs supersede unauthorised religious claims or structures erected without explicit administrative approvals.

Authorities from MIAL and local police departments are currently reviewing directives provided by MMRDA regarding execution steps and necessary security arrangements during the scheduled clearance drive.

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Crime

Priyanka Gandhi office warns against her deepfake videos asking people to invest money

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New Delhi, Sep 10: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday urged people to stay cautious of misleading and fabricated videos allegedly featuring her and asked them not to fall prey to fraudulent and deceitful calls for investment in real estate projects or any other futuristic ventures.

Priyanka Gandhi’s office flagged the issue after her deepfake videos surfaced and were seen in circulation on multiple social media platforms.

It has urged the Congress leader’s followers and others to neither click on those posts nor give consent to any requests made in the AI-generated video.

Issuing a formal scam alert on Instagram, Priyanka Gandhi’s office warned the public against fake, AI-generated videos that have apparently used her face and voice to cheat the people and hoodwink them into fraudulent investments.

“Fake videos using AI-generated images and voice of Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ji is circulating on WhatsApp, Instagram and other social media platforms asking people to invest money,” Cong MP’s office informed on its Insta handle.

“These are scams. Please do not click or invest,” it further said.

The Congress MP also asked the people to block such posts at the first instance and also report them to the relevant authorities for suitable action.

Such scams using deepfake and AI-generated videos of famous personalities have mushroomed in the past few years, making many gullible investors prone to huge financial losses.

A deepfake video is made by using AI to simulate a person’s face and voice, making it a facsimile copy of the target.

The scammers distort and misuse the cutting-edge technology to generate misleading videos, featuring unauthorised images of prominent figures and then try to rob people of their money.

In the recent past, deepfake videos of industrialists like Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and Reliance’s Mukesh Ambani also surfaced, where the online scammers and fraudsters used AI-doctored videos to lure citizens into fraudulent investment traps, leading to huge losses to investors.

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National News

Jammu Municipal Corporation demolishes 20 shops in Satwati area

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Jammu, Sep 10: Jammu Municipal Corporation officials on Thursday demolished 20 shops in Satwati area of the city even as the shopkeepers alleged that no prior notice was served to them.

Reports said the Jammu Municipal Corporation today demolished around 20 shops at Satwari Chowk, triggering anger among shopkeepers who alleged that the decades old commercial establishments were demolished without any prior information or notification.

The shops, according to the affected shopkeepers, had been operating at the location for around 50 years, with the occupants claiming that they had been regularly paying monthly rent to the municipal authorities.

Angry shopkeepers alleged that the demolition was carried out without giving them adequate notice or information, leaving them with little opportunity to remove their belongings or make alternative arrangements. The action comes against the backdrop of the long-pending issue of rehabilitation of shopkeepers affected by development works in the Satwari area.

The UT Cabinet had earlier approved a rehabilitation and resettlement scheme for shopkeepers and open-space kiosks affected by road widening at Nai Basti, Satwari Chowk.

A Jammu Municipal Corporation official, however, said that the affected shopkeepers would be relocated to another site within six months.

The assurance has failed to convince the affected traders, who said they had heard assurances of rehabilitation earlier as well, but continued to face uncertainty over their livelihood. The issue of rehabilitation of Satwari shopkeepers has been raised repeatedly by traders’ bodies.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has previously stated that affected shopkeepers had been paying rent to the municipal authorities and had sought alternate sites and rehabilitation.

Shopkeepers affected by the Jammu Municipal Corporation actions argue that relocation promises are uncertain and have demanded immediate financial compensation.

In June 2026, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) cleared over 30 illegal structures near the Jammu railway station, reclaiming state land valued at Rs 10 crore.

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