Bhagwant Mann government is expected to announce local civic body polls for 47 entities, including five municipal corporations in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Phagwara, and 42 other smaller bodies, including municipal councils and notified area committees, in September. There are a total 165 civic bodies in the state. There are 13 municipal corporations in Punjab out of which eight, Fazilka, Bathinda, Mohali, Pathankot, Moga, Batala, Abohar and Hoshiarpur, went to polls in February 2021.
The polls will be a test for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which came to power in March 2022 with a thumping majority by winning 92 seats in the 117-member state legislative assembly. Three months after forming the government, the party lost the Sangrur Lok Sabha bypoll in June last year, however, it is upbeat now after its victory in the Jalandhar Lok Sabha byelection in May this year.
According to the sources in the state’s local bodies department, the government is confident of a good show and is keen on conducting civic polls at the earliest. Also, as per Municipal Act 1911, the polls are to be held within six months after the five-year terms of the elected general houses end.
Earlier, it was decided to hold civic polls in May itself but with the delimitation exercise pending in many civic bodies, particularly in the five municipal corporations ready for the polls, it was delayed.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier, it was decided to hold civic polls in May itself but with the delimitation exercise pending in many civic bodies, particularly in the five municipal corporations ready for the polls, it was delayed.
{{/usCountry}}“Delimitation of the wards is going on and it may take a few more months,” informed a senior officer in the local bodies department.
The term of elected bodies in Amritsar and Patiala MCs ended on January 22, while Jalandhar ended on January 24. Ludhiana MCs term ended on March 26. The elections in Phagwara MC and seven municipal councils are due since March 2020 and the term of 42 municipal councils also came to an end in February month. The term of seven municipal councils - Dera Baba Nanak, Sardoolgarh, Sanour, Tarn Taran, Nadala, Sangrur and Rampura Phul--ended in March 2020.
In the absence of the elected body and its head -- mayor in the corporations and the president in the smaller civic entities-- the state government has appointed administrators to run the operation.
“Delimitation is a lengthy process as every area and ward within the municipal limits of the civic body has to be relooked in terms of balancing the population and voters,” informed the officer, adding that the number of wards is huge in the corporation cities takes additional time. Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has 100 wards; Amritsar (85); Jalandhar (75) and Patiala and Phagwara (50).
“We have nearly completed delimitation in all five municipal corporations due for the polls and the process of other 42 civic bodies is at different stages such as inviting objections and rectifying the issues that have been raised,” informed an officer adding that after the entire delimitation is done, the local bodies department will approach the state election commission for declaring the polls schedule.
GFX
Head: Long pending polls
Officials say the delay due to an ongoing delimitation exercise
165
Civic bodies in the state
47
Due for polls
5
Out of 13 municipal corporations and 42 municipal councils’ terms have ended
100
Wards in Ludhiana MC, Amritsar (85), Jalandhar (75); Patiala and Phagwara (50)