Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Elections in Punjab to be held on Dec 14: Raj Kamal Chaudhuri

Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Elections in Punjab to be held on Dec 14: Raj Kamal Chaudhuri

Model Code of Conduct for these elections comes into force with immediate effect

Chandigarh 28 November 2025 (WISHAVWARTA):- In accordance with the Notification dated 25.09.2025, issued under S.209 of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats, the State Election Commission is announcing the dates for the conduct of general elections to elect the members of Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis in the State.

The State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhuri said that as per the election schedule, the period for filing of Nominations by the candidates for these elections will start from 01.12.2025 (Monday) (between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) in the offices of the concerned Returning Officers designated for this purpose. The last date for filing Nominations will be 04.12.2025 (Thursday). Scrutiny of the Nomination papers will take place on 05.12.2025 (Friday). The last date for withdrawal of Nominations is 06.12.2025 (Saturday) (upto 03:00 p.m.). All nomination forms are to be accompanied by the prescribed affidavit, and in case the candidate is sponsored by a political party, by the authorisation letter of the concerned political party.

He informed that the poll will be held on 14.12.2025 (Sunday) from 08:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m. through the use of Ballot Papers. The polled votes will be counted on 17.12.2025 (Wednesday) at the counting centres established for this purpose.

He disclosed that these elections are being conducted to elect members of 357 zones of 23 Zila Parishads, and 2863 zones of 154 Panchayat Samitis (one member per zone). The total number of registered voters is 1,36,04,650 (consisting of 71,64,972 male, 64,39,497 female and 181 others voters). For these elections 19,181 booths covering all rural areas of the districts, have been established in the districts.

Sharing more details he said that the expenditure limit notified by the Commission for a candidate contesting for the post of Zila Parishad is Rs. 2,55,000/- whereas for Panchayat Samiti member expenditure limit has been fixed at Rs. 1,10,000/-.

He stated that about 96,000 personnel will be deputed on election duty. IAS/ Senior PCS Officers would be appointed in each district as Observers so as to ensure proper monitoring.

The Commission has made all the arrangements to conduct the elections in a fair, free and peaceful manner. With the announcement of the Election Schedule, the Model Code of Conduct for these elections, for the guidance of candidates and the State, has come into force with immediate effect, in the revenue estate of all the Gram Panchayats which fall under the zones of the concerned Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis. It will remain in force till the completion of the electoral process. A copy of the Model Code of Conduct is available on the Commission’s website.