New Delhi

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in India would implement "One Nation, One Election" within its current tenure, the news agency PTI reported on Sunday (Sept 15), citing sources.

The sources said that as the third term of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed 100 days in office, the cohesion within the ruling alliance will continue for the rest of the tenure.

"Definitely, it will be implemented in this tenure itself. It will be a reality," one source told PTI on the condition of anonymity. 

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What is 'One Nation, One Election'?

The central idea behind 'One Nation, One Election' is to synchronise the timing of the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections across all states and Union Territories (UTs) to reduce the frequency of elections in India.

Elections (to the House of the People and Legislative Assemblies of States) were mostly held simultaneously from 1951-52 to 1967, after which this cycle got broken, and now elections are held almost every year and within a year too at different times, which results in massive expenditure by the government and other stakeholders, besides diversion of security forces.

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The BJP promised 'One Nation, One Election' in its manifesto for the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Modi makes strong pitch for 'One Nation, One Election'

During his Independence Day speech on August 15, Prime Minister Modi made a strong pitch for "One Nation, One Election", contending that frequent polls were creating hurdles in the country's progress.

"The nation has to come forward for 'One Nation, One Election'," Modi had said in his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

In September last year, the Modi government constituted a high-level committee to examine the idea of 'One Nation, One Election' and make recommendations for holding simultaneous polls.

The committee is chaired by former president Ram Nath Kovind. 

(With inputs from agencies)