Mohali :
The Punjab State Election Commission has announced general elections for members of 8 Municipal Corporations, 76 Municipal Councils, and 21 Nagar Panchayats across the state. The announcement was made by State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhuri.
The elections will be conducted under the notifications issued by the Local Government Department under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, and the Punjab Municipal Election Act, 1911.
According to the election schedule, the filing of nominations will begin on May 13, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and the last date for filing nominations is May 16, 2026. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on May 18, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until 3:00 PM on May 19.
Polling will be held on May 26, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and counting of votes will take place on May 29 at designated counting centres.
The State Election Commissioner said that all nomination forms must be accompanied by affidavits, and candidates sponsored by political parties must submit authorization letters from their respective parties. Candidates’ KYC details will also be uploaded on district websites.
A total of 36,72,932 voters are eligible to cast their votes, including 18,98,990 men, 17,73,716 women, and 226 other voters. Around 3,977 polling stations will be set up across the districts.
The expenditure limit for candidates contesting Municipal Corporation elections has been fixed at ₹4 lakh. For Municipal Councils, the spending limit is ₹3.6 lakh for Class-I, ₹2.3 lakh for Class-II, and ₹2 lakh for Class-III councils, while candidates contesting Nagar Panchayat elections can spend up to ₹1.4 lakh.
Nearly 36,000 election staff and 35,500 police personnel will be deployed for election duty. IAS and PCS officers will be appointed as observers in each district to ensure smooth and transparent polling. District security plans have also been prepared under the supervision of Deputy Commissioners and District Magistrates.
The Commission stated that all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections.
With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect in all Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Nagar Panchayat areas where elections are scheduled. It will remain in force until the completion of the election process.
