Nomination begins for rural bodies poll in Jalandhar

The Punjab State Election Commission has announced the election to members of Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti in the state, 21 zones of Zila Parishad and 188 zones of Panchayat Samitis set to go to the polls in the district.

District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Agarwal said as per the programme issued by the State Election Commission, the elections will be held in 21 zones of Zila Parishad and 188 zones of 11 Panchayat Samiti in Jalandhar district on December 14.

Dr Agarwal said the elections will be held through ballot papers and 50 per cent seats will be reserved for women in the elections.

He said the date for filing nomination papers by candidates is from December 1 to December 4. During this period, nominations will be taken from 11 am to 3 pm in the offices of the Returning Officers. The scrutiny will be held on December 5 and these can be withdrawn till December 6 till 3 pm.

He further said the voting will be held on December 14 from 8 am to 4 pm, using ballot papers. The counting of votes will be done from 8 am on December 17.

The District Election Officer said there are 21 zones of Zila Parishad, Jalandhar, while Panchayat Samiti, Jalandhar East, has 15, Panchayat Samiti, Adampur, has 25, Panchayat Samiti, Bhogpur, has 15, Panchayat Samiti, Jalandhar West, has 19, Panchayat Samiti, Lohian Khas, has 15, Panchayat Samiti, Mehatpur, has 15, Panchayat Samiti, Nurmahal, has 15, Panchayat Samiti, Phillaur, has 20, Panchayat Samiti, Shahkot, has 15, Panchayat Samiti, Rurka Kalan, has 15 and Panchayat Samiti, Nakodar, has 19 zones.

Dr Agarwal said the State Election Commission has notified the election expenditure limit of Rs 2,55,000 for Zila Parishad candidates and Rs 1,10,000 for Panchayat Samiti candidates.

The District Election Officer said with the announcement of this election schedule, the Model Election Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect in ​​all Gram Panchayats, which come under the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti, which will remain in force till the end of the election process.