Chandigarh: Punjab State Election Commission today announced the election schedule for the conduct of the elections to various Municipal Corporations, Councils, and Nagar Panchayats in accordance with the notifications dated 22/11/2024 of the Local Government Department in which it has been directed that the elections to various Municipal Corporations, Councils, and Nagar Panchayats to be held by the end of December, 2024.
Addressing the press conference, Punjab State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhuri said that with the announcement of the Election Schedule, the Model Code of Conduct comes into force with immediate effect in the jurisdiction of the said Municipal Bodies, which will remain in force till the completion of the electoral process. A copy of the Model Code of Conduct is uploaded on the Commission's website - sec.punjab.gov.in.
He further informed that final publication of the electoral rolls of the Municipal bodies going to the polls has been done on 7.12.2024 and the copy of the same is available with the concerned Electoral Registration Officers (SDMs) and also in the office of the concerned Municipal body.
In addition to this, he added that the total electorate consists of 37,32,636 registered voters in which 19,55,888 are males, 17,76,544 are females and 204 others, subject to modification on account of the special revision carried out by 7 December 2024.
It is pertinent to mention here that as per the election schedule announced by the Commission, 9 December 2024 has been fixed as the first day for filling of nominations (between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the offices of the concerned Returning Officers and 12 December 2024 would be the last date for filing nominations (upto 03:00 pm). Besides this, the commission has fixed 13 December 2024 as the date for scrutiny and 14 December 2024 would be the last date for withdrawal of candidature (upto 3 p.m).
He further highlighted that EVMs would be used for the balloting. Sufficient number of EVMs have been arranged for use in the elections. The poll would be held on 21.12.2024 from 07.00 a.m. to 04.00 p.m. through the use of EVMs . The polled votes will be counted on the same day at the polling station itself, after the completion of polling of votes.
Sharing more details, he added that polling, wherever required, would be held for 381 wards of the Municipal Corporations and 598 Wards of the Municipal Councils/Nagar Panchayats.
Furthermore, he added that needful security arrangements have been made by the Police Department. Comprehensive security plan has been prepared. There are a total of 1609 polling locations having 3809 polling booths. 344 polling locations have been identified as Hypersensitive, and 665 as Sensitive. Hypersensitive polling stations would be provided with an additional force of 1 HC & 1 C, and also covered through intensive mobile patrolling. Sufficient number of platoons have been kept at reserve. A total of 21,500 personnel of Police Department and Home Guard Jawans would be deployed in the districts, he said.
Raj Kamal Chaudhuri said that 3 personnel would be deployed for a single polling station and 4 personnel would be deployed for a double polling station. Similarly, 5 personnel would be deployed for a triple polling station and 6 personnel would be deployed for a Quad Polling station. In case of need, the CPs and SSPs have been authorised to enhance the security deployment at polling locations/stations.
He further highlighted that instructions regarding prohibition on carrying arms and ammunition have been issued. The District Magistrates being Competent Authority under the Arms Act will assess the necessity or requirement with regard to deposit of arms. The expenditure limits notified for a candidate contesting for the Municipal Elections are Rs. 4,00,000/- for Municipal Corporation, Rs. 3,60,000/- for Municipal Council Class I, Rs. 2,30,000/- for Municipal Council Class II and Rs. 2,00,000/- for Municipal Council Class III. The expenditure limit notified for a candidate contesting for the Nagar Panchayat is Rs.1,40,000/-
Moreover, about 23,000 election personnel, including ROS/AROS/Presiding Officers/Polling Officers would be deputed on election duty. 25 IAS/PCS Officers would be appointed as General Observers in the districts where polling is to take place so as to oversee smooth and peaceful conduct of the polls.
He stated that for the facility of voters, specimen of Nomination Form 20 and Affidavit has been made available for downloading on the website of the Commission: sec.punjab.gov.in and the Commission has made all the arrangements to conduct the elections in a fair, free and peaceful manner.