Chandigarh, August 3, 2023: The Punjab government has announced that elections to the Nagar Councils and Nagar Panchayats will be held in the first half of November 2023. The State Election Commission will prepare the schedule and conduct the elections.
The announcement was made by Local Government Minister Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar. He said that the elections will be held in a free and fair manner.
There are a total of 46 urban local bodies in Punjab, including 5 municipal corporations and 41 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. The terms of these bodies are coming to an end in the next few months.
The elections are expected to be a keenly contested affair. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is currently in power in Punjab, is expected to face a challenge from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress.
The AAP had won a landslide victory in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. It is hoping to retain power in the local body elections as well.
The SAD and the Congress are also gearing up for the elections. They are hoping to make a comeback in the state.
The elections are likely to have a significant impact on the political landscape in Punjab. They will also be a test of the popularity of the AAP government.