Chandigarh, May 11 (IANS) The elections to 104 local bodies in Punjab, including eight Municipal Corporations, will be held on May 26, State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari said on Monday.​

The nomination process for candidates contesting the elections will be held from May 13 to May 16, while the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on May 18. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is May 19.​

The State Election Commission has also ordered videography of the nomination filing process to ensure transparency.​

Polling will be held on May 26 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the ballots will be counted on May 29 at designated counting centres.​

The total number of registered voters is 36,72,932, comprising 18,98,990 men, 17,73,716 women, and 226 other voters.​

For the elections, 3,977 polling stations will be established across the districts.​

The expenditure limit notified by the commission for a candidate contesting for the post in a Municipal Corporation is Rs 4,00,000. For Municipal Councils, the limits are Rs 3,60,000 for Class I, Rs 2,30,000 for Class II, and Rs 2,00,000 for Class III; for Nagar Panchayats, it is Rs 1,40,000.​

About 36,000 election personnel and 35,500 police personnel will be deputed on election duty.​

Senior officers will be appointed in each district as observers to ensure proper monitoring.​

The district security plan has been prepared under the overall supervision of the District Magistrate, the State Election Commissioner said.​

The commission has made all arrangements to conduct the elections in a fair, free, and peaceful manner.​

With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect in the jurisdiction of all Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Nagar Panchayats where elections are to be held.​

It will remain in force till the completion of the electoral process.​

–IANS

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