Civic body elections in third week of Feb

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 7

The Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government has decided to hold elections to the 118 civic bodies in the state in the third week of February.

After the nod by the CM today to complete the election process by February 20, a communication in this regard was sent to the State Election Commission for a formal notification of the schedule.

It will be for the first time in the electoral history of the urban local bodies in the state that women candidates will be in the fray in nearly 50 per cent of seats of nine municipal corporations, besides 109 municipal councils and nagar panchayats.

Brahm Mohindra, Local Government Minister, said: “After approval from the Chief Minister to hold the polls by February 20, a communication is being sent to the State Election Commission for a formal notification of dates. We are ready for polls.”

“Earlier, the government had communicated to the EC to complete the process by February 13. But the government decided to complete the election process by February 20 after the local government sought a few more days following a request by DCs for more time for conduct of elections,” said a senior government functionary. Initially, the government had decided to hold the election in October 2019, but it had to be delayed due the pandemic.