Chandigarh: Punjab is expected to announce the schedule for the 2025 Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections today, with the State Election Commission set to address a press conference this afternoon. Once the announcement is made, the Model Code of Conduct will come into effect across the state from tomorrow. As per early indications, the elections may be held by December 14. The reservation process for wards in all districts has already been completed.
Punjab will conduct elections for 23 Zila Parishads and 154 Panchayat Samitis. The Rural Development and Panchayat Department has completed all legal formalities required for the polls, including the revision of voter lists. This year’s elections are delayed compared to the scheduled timeline.
The polls will be held using the January 2025 voter list. The department has informed the High Court through an affidavit that the elections will be completed by December 5. They were postponed earlier due to the reorganization of blocks and the floods that affected several regions in Punjab.
The previous elections were held in 2018, and the long-pending process will now set the stage for an important political contest. With just 13 months left for the 2027 Assembly elections, these local body elections are being seen as a crucial semi-final. Traditionally, such elections tend to favor the ruling party, but the political stakes are much higher this time.
