State Election Commission has announced the Election Schedule for the conduct of the general Gram Panchayat Elections, in accordance with the Notification dated 19.9.2024 issued under s. 209 of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 by the Department of Rural Development & Panchayats.
Addressing the press conference, Punjab State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhuri said that with the announcement of the Election Schedule, the Model Code of Conduct for Gram Panchayat Elections for the guidance of candidates and State has come into force with immediate effect, which will remain in force till the completion of the electoral process.
He further informed that as per the election schedule, the period for filing of nominations by candidates will commence from 27th September, 2024 (Friday) between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the offices of the concerned Returning Officers. The last date for filing nominations will be 04.10.2024 (Friday).
He added that no nominations will be accepted on 28.09.2024 being a public holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act. Scrutiny of the Nomination papers would take place on 05.10.2024 (Saturday). The last date for withdrawal of Nominations is 07.10.2024(Monday) upto 03:00 p.m.
Sharing more details, he revealed that the poll will be held on 15.10.2024 (Tuesday) from 08.00 a.m. to 04.00 p.m. through the use of Ballot Boxes. The polled votes will be counted on the same day at the polling station itself, after the completion of polling of votes.
Furthermore, he added that Polling, wherever required, would be held for 13,237 Sarpanches and 83,437 Panches. Total electorate consists of 1,33,97,922 registered voters consisting of 70,51,722 Males, 63,46,008 Females, and 192 others.In addition to this, he added that the expenditure limit notified for a candidate contesting for the post of Sarpanch is Rs. 40,000/-, whereas for Panch expenditure limit has been fixed at Rs. 30,000/-.
Moreover, he said about 96,000 personnel will be deputed on election duty and 23 senior IAS/PCS Officers would be appointed as General Observers in the districts so as to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the polls at 19,110 polling booths. The Commission has made all the arrangements to conduct the elections in a fair, free and peaceful manner.