Chandigarh: The State Election Commission has announced that municipal elections in Punjab will take place on December 21, 2024. The polls will cover five key municipal corporations and 44 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. Voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with all preparations completed for the democratic exercise, State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary confirmed on Sunday.
Key Municipal Corporations in Focus
The elections will decide representatives for Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Phagwara, five major municipal corporations. In addition, 381 wards across these corporations and 598 wards from municipal councils and nagar panchayats will see intense electoral competition.
Voting Preparations and Schedule
- Nomination Filing: Opens December 9 and closes December 12.
- Scrutiny of Papers: Scheduled for December 13.
- Withdrawal of Nominations: Finalized by December 14.
- Counting of Votes: To be conducted on the same day as polling at respective polling stations.
The State Election Commission has ensured the availability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for seamless voting.
Electoral Demographics and Facilities
A total of 37.32 lakh registered voters, including 17.75 lakh women and 204 third-gender voters, are eligible to cast their votes. To accommodate this, 1,609 polling stations with 3,809 booths will be set up. Among these, 344 polling stations have been classified as hyper-sensitive, and 665 as sensitive, reflecting heightened security needs.
Comprehensive Security Plan in Place
To ensure a safe and peaceful election:
- 21,500 personnel, including police officers and home guards, will be deployed.
- Police Commissioners and Senior Superintendents have been given authority to scale up security as needed.
- Deployment of 23,000 election staff will facilitate smooth voting operations.
Observers and Monitoring
The State Election Commission has appointed 25 IAS and PCS officers as general observers to oversee the election process and ensure fairness. With robust planning and technology integration, authorities aim for a transparent and efficient election.
Punjab Readies for a Democratic Showdown
This election marks a critical opportunity for Punjab’s urban governance to chart a new course. With major cities like Ludhiana and Jalandhar in the fray, political parties are gearing up for intense campaigns, and citizens are poised to exercise their democratic rights.
