Uttarakhand Municipal Elections on January 23, Results on January 25

Dehradun: The Election Commission on Monday announced the dates for Uttarakhand’s municipal elections, putting an end to speculation and setting the stage for a contest between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. As per the schedule, the election campaign will officially begin on December 27 and continue until January 23. The nomination process will take place from December 27 to December 30, with scrutiny of papers scheduled for December 31 and January 1. Candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations until January 2. Voting across Municipal Corporations, Nagar Parishads, and Nagar Panchayats will occur in a single phase on January 23, with results announced on January 25.

Uttarakhand has a total of 92 municipal bodies, comprising 8 Municipal Corporations, 42 Municipal Councils, and 42 Municipal Panchayats. Among the 8 Municipal Corporations, the BJP currently holds control of 5. Significant changes have been introduced regarding reservations in this election. Notably, the mayoral seat of Haldwani, previously reserved for the OBC community, has now been made a general seat. Conversely, the Almora mayoral seat has been reserved for OBC candidates.

Political parties are ramping up their preparations, promising a closely fought battle. The Congress is aiming to leverage local issues to challenge the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led BJP government. Meanwhile, the BJP is optimistic following its recent success in the Kedarnath Assembly by-election. Both parties view the municipal elections as a precursor to larger political contests in the state.

The timing of the elections is also significant, as they will conclude just before the National Games, scheduled from January 28 to February 1. Following the games, Uttarakhand will shift focus to the village and block panchayat elections, with their term set to end in November 2024.

This election season marks a crucial period for Uttarakhand, as political parties gear up to shape their strategies for both urban and rural governance in the coming year.