Panchkula/Chandiagrh, April 15: The Haryana State Election Commission said that municipal corporation elections for Panchkula, Ambala, and Sonepat will take place on May 10. State Election Commissioner Devinder Singh Kalyan stated during a press conference in Panchkula that the polling will decide the posts of mayors and councillors across these key districts.
Following the announcement, the model code of conduct became effective starting April 13. To maintain the integrity of the electoral process, the commission has restricted the transfer of all government officials and employees within the concerned jurisdictions until the conclusion of the polls.
“Returning officers will issue notices inviting nominations on April 15,” Kalyan noted while outlining the schedule. Candidates are required to file their nomination papers between April 21 and April 25, with the final list of candidates expected after the withdrawal deadline on April 28.
The election cycle also extends to the Rewari municipal council and several municipal committees, including Sampla, Dharuhera, and Uklana. Furthermore, bypolls for various vacant seats in councils and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) will be held concurrently. The commission has mandated educational qualifications for contestants, requiring a Class 10 certificate for general category candidates and Class 8 for women and SC candidates.
To ensure transparency, the commission fixed expenditure limits at ₹30 lakh for mayoral candidates and ₹7.5 lakh for councillors. All voting will be conducted via Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and the “None of the Above” (NOTA) option will be available to all voters.
