The News Freedom
Chandigarh, December 8
The Punjab State Election Commission has announced the schedule for elections to various Municipal Corporations, Councils, and Nagar Panchayats. Voting will be held on December 21, with counting taking place on the same day at polling stations. Following the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct came into immediate effect and will remain enforced until the completion of the electoral process.
Punjab State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhuri said the elections align with the Local Government Department’s directive dated November 22, mandating municipal polls by the end of the year. He noted that details of the Model Code of Conduct have been uploaded on the Commission’s website, sec.punjab.gov.in. The final electoral rolls, published on December 7, include 37,32,636 registered voters, comprising 19,55,888 males, 17,76,544 females, and 204 others.
The nomination process will begin on December 9, with the final day for submissions being December 12. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on December 13, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until December 14. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used across all polling stations, and voting will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 21.
Polling will cover 381 wards in Municipal Corporations and 598 wards in Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats. A total of 1,609 polling locations, comprising 3,809 booths, have been identified. Of these, 344 locations have been classified as hypersensitive and 665 as sensitive. Special security measures, including mobile patrolling and additional police deployment, have been arranged at hypersensitive locations.
To ensure smooth conduct, 21,500 personnel from the Police Department and Home Guards will be deployed. Each polling station will be staffed based on its size, with up to six personnel assigned to the largest stations. Commissioners of Police and Senior Superintendents of Police have been authorized to enhance security if needed.
The expenditure limits for candidates have been set at ₹4,00,000 for Municipal Corporations, ₹3,60,000 for Class I Municipal Councils, ₹2,30,000 for Class II Municipal Councils, ₹2,00,000 for Class III Municipal Councils, and ₹1,40,000 for Nagar Panchayats. District Magistrates will oversee the enforcement of arms restrictions under the Arms Act.
The Commission has deployed approximately 23,000 election officials, including Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, and polling staff. Additionally, 25 IAS/PCS officers will serve as General Observers to monitor the process. Specimens of nomination forms and affidavits are available for download on the Commission’s website.
Raj Kamal Chaudhuri assured voters that all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election.