Chandigarh, 07 April (H.S.): Preparations have begun for elections to 9 municipal corporations and 102 municipal councils in Punjab, with polling likely to be held by the end of May or in the first week of June. However, there is still some uncertainty over whether the state government is ready to conduct the elections immediately.

The Local Government Department has issued a notification stating that administrators will be appointed in civic bodies immediately after the expiry of their respective terms. The tenure of the Abohar Municipal Corporation ends on April 8, followed by Mohali, Hoshiarpur, and Bathinda on April 11. Barnala’s term ends on April 14, Batala on April 18, Pathankot on April 28, Moga on May 12, and Kotkapura on June 6.

Officials said that objections received regarding ward delimitation are currently being reviewed. Once the process is completed, a revised reservation policy will be finalised and the proposal will be sent to the state government. After approval, the State Election Commission will be formally requested to conduct the elections, while the final dates will be decided by the commission itself.

Despite the preparations, conducting the elections may not be straightforward. The schedule is expected to coincide with the first phase of the national census. Additionally, the Punjab government is set to carry out a drug census and a socio-economic survey during the same period. This means that the administrative machinery responsible for elections will also be engaged in these large-scale exercises, posing logistical challenges.

Meanwhile, the High Court has recently dismissed all petitions related to ward delimitation, clearing a major hurdle in the election process. The decision is expected to accelerate the administrative procedures required before announcing the poll schedule.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH