TFP Bureau, Raipur, December 28, 2024: The Chhattisgarh state government has completed preparations for the upcoming urban body and panchayat elections, with an official announcement expected soon. The General Administration Department has issued detailed guidelines regarding the election code of conduct, which will come into effect once the election dates are officially announced.
The state is anticipating that the election dates will be revealed on December 31, 2024. If the announcement is delayed, the election process may be pushed back by a month, as work on the new voter list is scheduled to begin on January 1. The State Election Commission is expected to release the election schedule shortly after.
Election Code of Conduct Guidelines
In a 14-page document issued by General Administration Department Secretary Avinash Champawat, it has been specified that government appointments and transfers will cease immediately after the election announcement. During the election period, government employees and officers will require collector’s permission for leave.
The guidelines also impose restrictions on government ministers, prohibiting them from making new announcements, participating in Bhoomi Pujan or inauguration events, or deploying additional security for personal tours. Ministers will only be allowed to meet officers and employees at government rest houses; private meetings will not be permitted.
Key Election Regulations
The guidelines also include several important regulations for the election period. Election campaign materials must display the name and address of the printer and publisher. The transaction of weapons will be banned, and government employees will be prohibited from participating in political activities or election campaigns. Strict action will be taken against anti-social elements, with increased monitoring during the election process.
Elections to Be Held in 10 Municipal Corporations
Elections are scheduled to take place in 10 of the state’s 14 municipal corporations, including Ambikapur, Dhamtari, Korba, Bilaspur, Chirmiri, Rajnandgaon, Jagdalpur, Raigarh, Durg, and Raipur. Elections will not be held in the remaining four municipal corporations: Risali, Bhilai, Birgaon, and Bhilai-Charoda.
Congress Holds Majority in Municipal Corporations
Currently, the Congress party holds mayoral positions in 13 of the 14 municipal corporations in the state. In the 2019 elections, Safira Sahu, a Congress candidate, won the mayorship in Jagdalpur. However, she has since joined the BJP. In the last elections, mayors were elected by the councilors rather than through direct voting.
