SHIMLA, APRIL 21 — Himachal Pradesh gears up for urban local body elections as the State Election Commission on Tuesday announced the polling schedule for 51 urban bodies, including four municipal corporations—Solan, Mandi, Dharamshala, and Palampur. State Election Commissioner Anil Khachi declared the polling date as May 17, 2026, with the model code of conduct coming into force immediately across the hill state.
Of the total urban bodies going to polls, four are municipal corporations, 25 are municipal councils, and 22 are nagar panchayats. Khachi also disclosed that around 36,000 panchayats will hold elections in the coming months, with the final voter list for these rural polls expected to be published on April 27, 2026.
The electoral process begins with the filing of nomination papers on April 29, 30, and May 2 (until 3 PM). Scrutiny of nominations will take place on May 4 at 10 AM, followed by the withdrawal of candidatures on May 6 between 10 AM and 3 PM. Candidates contesting in municipal corporation elections can spend up to ₹1 lakh, while those in municipal council and nagar panchayat polls face a cap of ₹75,000 and ₹50,000, respectively.
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Polling will be held from 7 AM to 3 PM on May 17, with counting for municipal councils and nagar panchayats conducted the same day. However, the results for the four municipal corporations will be declared on May 31, 2026.
Khachi revealed that 180,963 male and 179,882 female voters are registered for the urban body elections, including 1,808 first-time voters who turned 18 this year. To assist voters, the Election Commission has urged people to verify their names and those of their family members on the *Sarathi App*. The list of polling stations will be published on April 29, 2026.
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In a stern move to ensure administrative stability, the State Election Commission has directed district officials, including Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), Block Development Officers (BDOs), and District Panchayat Officers, not to leave their headquarters without permission until the elections conclude. This directive underscores the Commission’s commitment to smooth electoral oversight.
The announcement follows the sealing of voter lists for rural panchayat elections on April 27, 2026, even as the rural polls’ declaration remains pending. Political observers see the staggered announcement as part of the Election Commission’s broader strategy to address logistical and security concerns ahead of the polls. The immediate enforcement of the model code of conduct bars any pre-election campaigning that could sway voters before the official schedule kicks in.
