Chandigarh, 9 December 2024: The nomination process for elections to five Municipal Corporations and 44 Municipal Councils in Punjab commenced today, December 9, 2024. Candidates can file their nominations between 11 am and 3 pm until December 12, with scrutiny scheduled for December 13. The final date for withdrawal of nominations is December 14, up to 3 pm.
Punjab State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary announced that the Model Code of Conduct has been enforced in the concerned areas following the announcement of the election schedule. Voter lists were finalized on December 7, with 37.32 lakh registered voters, including 19.55 lakh males, 17.76 lakh females, and 204 others.
Voting is set for December 21 from 7 am to 4 pm, covering 381 wards of Municipal Corporations and 598 wards of Municipal Councils/Nagar Panchayats. Counting will occur on the same day. A total of 1,609 polling stations, comprising 3,809 booths, have been set up, with 344 declared highly sensitive and 665 marked sensitive.
To ensure security, 21,500 personnel, including police and home guards, will be deployed, alongside additional forces at sensitive stations. Mobile patrolling and a ban on arms under the Arms Act will also be enforced.
Candidates’ expenditure limits range from ₹4,00,000 for Municipal Corporation elections to ₹1,40,000 for Nagar Panchayat elections. Over 23,000 personnel will manage polling duties, supported by 25 IAS/PCS officers acting as observers to ensure smooth operations.
Nomination forms and affidavits are available for download on the commission’s website. All arrangements are in place to ensure a fair, free, and peaceful election process.