Punjab local body elections on May 26: 104 bodies, 36.7 lakh voters
Synopsis
Punjab's State Election Commissioner has announced elections to 104 local bodies — including 8 Municipal Corporations — on 26 May, with over 36.7 lakh voters, nearly 4,000 polling stations, and a full Model Code of Conduct now in force. Results are due on 29 May.
Key Takeaways
Punjab will hold elections to 104 local bodies , including 8 Municipal Corporations , on 26 May .
Over 36,72,932 registered voters will participate, spread across 3,977 polling stations .
Nominations open 13 May and close 16 May ; last withdrawal date is 19 May ; counting on 29 May .
About 36,000 election personnel and 35,500 police personnel will be deployed.
Candidate spending caps range from ₹1,40,000 (Nagar Panchayat) to ₹4,00,000 (Municipal Corporation).
The Model Code of Conduct is in immediate effect across all poll-bound jurisdictions.
Punjab will hold elections to 104 local bodies — including eight Municipal Corporations — on 26 May, State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari announced on Monday, 11 May. The elections will cover Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Nagar Panchayats across the state, with over 36.7 lakh registered voters set to exercise their franchise.
Key Dates and Schedule
The nomination process will run from 13 May to 16 May, followed by scrutiny of nomination papers on 18 May. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is 19 May. Polling will be conducted on 26 May from 8 am to 5 pm, and counting of ballots will take place on 29 May at designated counting centres across the state.
Voter and Infrastructure Details
The total number of registered voters stands at 36,72,932, comprising 18,98,990 men, 17,73,716 women, and 226 other voters. A total of 3,977 polling stations will be established across districts to facilitate the voting process. Notably, the State Election Commission has ordered videography of the nomination filing process to ensure transparency.
Security and Personnel Deployment
Approximately 36,000 election personnel and 35,500 police personnel will be deployed on election duty. Senior officers will be appointed in each district as observers to ensure proper monitoring, and district security plans have been prepared under the supervision of the respective District Magistrates, according to Commissioner Chaudhari.
Expenditure Limits for Candidates
The State Election Commission has notified candidate expenditure caps for each category. Candidates contesting for posts in a Municipal Corporation may spend up to ₹4,00,000. For Municipal Councils, the limits are ₹3,60,000 for Class I, ₹2,30,000 for Class II, and ₹2,00,000 for Class III. Candidates in Nagar Panchayats are capped at ₹1,40,000.
Model Code of Conduct in Force
With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into immediate effect across all jurisdictions where elections are to be held — covering all Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Nagar Panchayats. The MCC will remain in force until the completion of the entire electoral process. The commission has stated that all arrangements have been made to conduct the elections in a fair, free, and peaceful manner. All eyes will now be on the nomination window opening on 13 May, which will signal the competitive landscape ahead of the 26 May poll.
Point of View
But they are a critical barometer of street-level sentiment — especially for the Aam Aadmi Party government, which swept the 2022 assembly polls on an urban reform mandate. With 104 bodies and 36.7 lakh voters in play, the results on 29 May will be read as a mid-term report card. The Model Code of Conduct kicking in immediately is a standard procedural step, but the videography of nominations signals the commission is alive to the risk of coercion at the filing stage — a recurring complaint in Punjab's urban polls. How the AAP fares against a resurgent Congress and a BJP recalibrating its Punjab strategy will be the real story to watch.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Punjab local body elections 2025?
The Punjab local body elections are scheduled for 26 May 2025, with polling from 8 am to 5 pm. Counting of votes will take place on 29 May at designated centres.
How many local bodies are going to polls in Punjab?
A total of 104 local bodies are going to polls, including 8 Municipal Corporations, multiple Municipal Councils, and Nagar Panchayats spread across Punjab.
What is the voter count for the Punjab local body elections?
There are 36,72,932 registered voters — comprising 18,98,990 men, 17,73,716 women, and 226 other voters — eligible to vote across 3,977 polling stations.
What is the nomination schedule for Punjab local body elections?
Nominations can be filed from 13 May to 16 May. Scrutiny of papers is on 18 May, and the last date for withdrawal of nominations is 19 May.
What are the spending limits for candidates in Punjab local body elections?
Spending caps vary by body type: ₹4,00,000 for Municipal Corporation candidates, ₹3,60,000 to ₹2,00,000 for Municipal Council candidates (Class I to III), and ₹1,40,000 for Nagar Panchayat candidates.
