51 urban bodies to go to polls on May 17

The State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday announced single-phase elections to 51 urban local bodies (ULBs) in the state on May 17.

State Election Commissioner Anil Khachi said polling would be held for 51 ULBs, including four Municipal Corporations —Solan, Mandi, Dharamsala and Palampur — along with 25 nagar parishads and 22 nagar panchayats. The Model Code of Conduct came into force immediately after the announcement.

Election Schedule

• Filing of papers: April 29, 30 and May 2 (11 am to 3 pm)
• Scrutiny of nomination papers: May 4 (10 am onwards)
• Withdrawal & symbol allotment: May 6 (10 am to 3 pm)
• Polling: May 17 ( 7 am to 3 pm)
• Counting of votes for nagar parishads, nagar panchayats: May 17
• Counting of votes for four MCs: May 31

“A total of 449 wards will go to the polls across these 51 ULBs, with 3,60,859 voters,” Khachi said. Counting for nagar parishads and nagar panchayats will be held immediately after polling on May 17, while votes for the four Municipal Corporations will be counted on May 31.

The electorate comprises 1,80,963 men, 1,79,882 women and 14 other voters. There are 1,808 first-time voters, including 961 men and 847 women.

Khachi said the schedule for panchayati raj institution (PRI) elections would be announced later. He warned that having voter registration at two places — rural and urban — would be treated as an electoral offence. With the court mandating that panchayat polls be completed by May 31, the PRI poll schedule is expected within a few days.

He said elections would be held in all ULBs where the roster had been received and the special revision of electoral rolls was completed yesterday. “We are confident of smooth polls, but the police have been directed to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections,” he added.

Voters can use any of 16 identity documents, including Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving licence, voter ID card and ration card, as proof of identity.

Elections to nagar parishads and nagar panchayats will be held on a non-party basis, while polls to the four Municipal Corporations will be conducted on party symbols allotted to recognised political parties.