CHANDIGARH, MAY 11 — The Punjab State Election Commission officially announced the schedule for the long-awaited urban local body elections on Monday, setting the polling date for May 26. The elections will cover eight municipal corporations, 76 municipal councils, and 21 nagar panchayats across the state, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 29.
State Election Commissioner Dr. Raj Kamal Chaudhuri stated that the nomination process is set to begin on May 13 and will conclude on May 16. With this announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect, restricting the state government from making new administrative decisions or transfers in the affected urban areas.
“Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful and transparent elections,” Dr. Chaudhuri affirmed. He noted that nearly 36.72 lakh voters are eligible to participate in the democratic process, including over 18 lakh men and approximately 17.73 lakh women.
According to the commission, the eight municipal corporations going to the polls include Mohali, Bathinda, Abohar, Barnala, Kapurthala, Moga, Batala, and Pathankot. However, elections for Hoshiarpur and Sham Churasi have been deferred due to ongoing electoral roll revisions and ward reservation issues.
Officials maintained that 3,977 polling stations will be established to facilitate voting from 8 am to 5 pm. The commission declared that only physical submissions of nomination papers will be accepted at the offices of returning officers, though all candidate data will be digitized for public viewing.
