Jalil and Hossein Pak, Iran FMs hold talks; agree to dial down tensions Pakistan Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian agreed on the need for closer cooperation on security issues | More on p11 1 chennai l saturday l january 20, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l vellore EDITION Law panel may submit ‘one poll’ report next week from 2029,” said the official. This paper was the first to reSetting the ball rolling for the port on September 26 that the Centre’s proposal of ‘One Na- Law Commission is finalising tion, One Poll’, the 22nd Law its report on ‘One Nation, One Commission is likely to submit Poll’ with likely timelines beits final report on the feasibility ginning 2024. of simultaneous elecT h e d eve l o p m e n t tions to the Lok Sabha, comes amid the buzz state assemblies and lothat a high-level comcal bodies, to the Union mittee led by former law ministry next week, president Ram Nath Koa top source in the minvind on ‘One Nation, istry said. The CommisOne Poll’ may submit sion, headed by Justice its report to the Union Need to Rituraj Awasthi, will government in Februamend re c o m m e n d a f u l l ary or March ahead of statute fledged rollout of simulthe 2024 general electaneous polls by 2029, Many experts tions. “The Law Comthe source added. mission report will be have pointed The Commission will considered by the Koout that the suggest that the exer- main challenge vind panel,” according cise be carried out in is the need for to the source. phases. For synchro- as many as five It is not clear if the nised polls, the terms of government has plans constitutional some state assemblies to push the bill during amendments may need curtailment the interim Budget Sesto facilitate or extension, which simultaneous sion of Parliament, would require Constituwhich is scheduled to elections tional amendments, the begin on January 31. If official said. it intends to conduct si“The report has addressed all multaneous polls to assemblies concerns related to Constitu- that fall in the same year, the tional amendments. We have states that have elections schedworked out a formula to syn- uled six months after May 2024 chronise all assembly polls by are Haryana, Maharashtra and extending or reducing the ten- Jharkhand. Delhi assembly ure so that they can be held elections are scheduled for Febalong with the Lok Sabha polls ruary 2025. Pakistan’s Additional Foreign Secretary Rahim Hayat Qureshi said the two countries share fraternal ties and must move forward to resolve all issues through positive dialogue E X PRESS N EWS SER V I C E @ Chennai Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chief Minister MK Stalin at the opening of the Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai on Friday | Pti PM launches revamped Podhigai as DD Tamil Camaraderie between leaders on display PM Modi also launched and laid the foundation stone of projects worth `250 crore related to the broadcasting sector. This includes the launch of the revamped DD Podhigai channel as DD Tamil Camaraderie between CM Stalin and PM Modi was on display at the event, with Modi holding the CM’s hand as they entered the venue. The PM patted minister Udhayanidhi on the back when they met Declaring open the Khelo India Youth Games 2023 (KIYG) at a grand function here on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “We are working diligently to host the Youth Olympics in 2029 and the Olympic Games in 2036 in India.” “This year will witness the creation of new records and marking of new achievements for the nation and the world. You have to move forward because India will move forward with you. Get together, win and make the country win. I declare the Khelo India Youth Games 2023 open,” the PM said. He expressed confidence that the hospitality of Tamil Nadu will win all hearts and that the KIYG will provide athletes with the opportunity to showcase their skills. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister MK Stalin said his government’s objective was to make TN the sports capital of India. Congratulating TN Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for taking the state in that direction, the CM listed the state’s achievements in sports as well as the infrastructure being upgraded for the sportspersons in the State. He also thanked the PM for accepting the state’s invitation and visiting TN. Full face of Ram Lalla seen for the first time The 51-inch shyamal (dusky) idol, was placed in the sanctum The first image of the full face sanctorum of the temple on of the new Ram Lalla idol sur- Thursday afternoon. faced on social media on Friday, Meanwhile, the week-long days ahead of the consecration rituals in the run-up to the Janof the Ram Temple in Ayodhya uary 22 consecration entered on Monday, though the eyes of the fourth day on Friday With . the deity continue to be covered just three days left, Uttar at the consecration site. The im- Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi age that has gone viral appears Aditynath and the Ayodhya to have been taken when the Temple Construction Commitidol was at the workshop. tee chair man Nripendra This newspaper was Mishra took stock of the the first to report that preparations. Security has Ram Lalla’s idol carved been tightened. Multiple by Mysuru-based sculpteams of the NDRF that are tor Arun Jogiraj was trained to tackle chemical, the final pick for consebiological, radiological cration at the sanctum and nuclear attacks have Arun Jogiraj sanctorum. been deployed. N a m i ta b a j pa i @ Lucknow Fostering aerospace innovation in India As part of our commitment to India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, we are dedicated to driving aerospace innovation in India and the world. The new Boeing Sukanya Program will invest in the further growth of female pilots and advancement of women in aviation. Join us at boeing.com/indiacareers 2 CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI ■ ■ PM opens Khelo games, sets target to host ’36 Olympics Expected to recommend the full-fledged rollout of simultaneous elections by 2029 P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi The talk come in the wake of their tit-fortat missile strikes on each other’s territory. Both countries described them as anti-terror operations 3 Besides, a meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Council was underway on Friday night. The NSC is expected to frame guidelines for future ties with Iran Vital statistics Total height Width Weight 4.25 ft 3 ft 1.5 tonnes Depicted age of Lord Ram in idol: 5 years old Made out of: Black rock sourced from Karnataka Base: Shaped as lotus with idol standing on it Symbols: Swastik accompanied by Om, Chakra, Gada (mace) and Surya are there over the idol Other elements: Idol has an aura (halo) sculpted around it Features: Long hands, broad forehead, attractive eyes. 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu sculpted around it Sculptor: Arun Jogiraj of Mysuru Tasking Udhayanidhi, his son, with taking the state to new heights in sports on a global scale, the CM welcomed about 5,000 participants from various states to the KIYG. Reiterating that the Dravidian model of governance is all about ‘everything for everyone,’ he recalled that the government had invited sportspersons from Manipur to train in TN. “The Dravidian Model government, in the spirit of brotherhood, welcomed the sportspersons from Manipur as they could not continue their coaching due to the issues in their state. Some of them are participating in the Khelo India Games,” he said.  P5 5 DAYS TO GO PRESENTS THINKEDU CONCLAVE pressIntake Relief for Periyar univ V-C as HC stays police investigation | P2 DMK MLA’s son booked for harassing teen SC girl | P4