Punjab civic polls: 6 MCs to go to polls tomorrow

A total of 1,263 candidates are in the fray for the elections to six municipal corporations in Punjab to be held tomorrow in which about 7.90 lakh voters are eligible to vote.
The electioneering for the civic polls, which are being seen as a litmus test for ruling SAD-BJP combine which is at the helm of affairs in the state since last seven years, had came to an end yesterday.
The six municipal corporations going to polls are: Phagwara, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Mohali, Bathinda, Moga. Byelections will be held for two wards of Patiala Municipal Corporation and one ward of Jalandhar Municipal Corporation.

A total of 7.90 lakh voters will decide the fate of candidates for 298 wards, Punjab Election Commissioner S S Brar said in a statement today.
Elections will be held on 50 wards each of MCs of Bathinda, Mohali and Moga, 49 wards each of MCs of Hoshiarpur and Pathankot and 47 wards of Phagwara MC, he said.
Four candidates have already been elected unopposed on three wards of Phagwara MC and one ward of Hoshiarpur MC, he said.

The State Election Commission has announced to postpone the election of ward no. 30 of Pathankot Municipal Corporation due to the death of BJP candidate Shashi Kala on February 19, he further said.

The SEC has also increased the polling hours by one hour from 8 am to 5 pm following demand of various parties. Earlier, polling was to end at 4pm.
EVMs will be used in the polls and the counting of votes will take place on February 26, he said.
Brar said all arrangements have been made for free, fair and peaceful polling. 3,987 police personnels have been deployed for the peaceful conduct of civic elections, he said.
Ten elections observers comprising IAS officers have been deployed oversee the polling process, he further said.