Gurpreet Singh :- Punjab is set to enter election mode once again as the State Election Commission is scheduled to announce the poll schedule today for nine Municipal Corporations and 104 Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats across the state. Official sources said the Model Code of Conduct will come into force immediately after the election programme is released later in the day, triggering heightened political activity across Punjab.
The upcoming urban local body elections are being viewed as a crucial political test ahead of the Assembly elections due in the coming months. Political observers believe the civic polls could serve as an indicator of the public mood and the relative strength of major parties before the larger electoral battle.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party is expected to face strong competition from the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, all of which have already intensified preparations for the elections. Most major political parties are likely to contest the polls on their official party symbols, setting the stage for an intense multi-cornered contest.
The State Election Commission has already completed the revision of electoral rolls, with the final voter lists having been published on May 5. With the formal announcement of the election schedule, the administrative machinery is now expected to shift into full election mode.
The elections will be conducted for the Municipal Corporations of Bathinda, Moga, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Batala, Mohali, Abohar, Barnala and Kapurthala. These civic bodies had earlier been dissolved by the government and placed under administrative control. The forthcoming elections are expected to restore elected representation in these urban institutions.
Political parties are now likely to accelerate candidate selection, campaign planning and public outreach programmes as the state prepares for another high-stakes electoral contest.
