Chandigarh: January 23: The Election Commission of India has announced the election schedule for Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections on January 8, 2022 and January 17, 2022.
Disclosing this here today Dr. S Karuna Raju said that as per schedule announced the filing of nomination papers for the upcoming Vidhan Sabha 2022 elections would start with issuance of notification on January 25th, 2022 (Tuesday) and would continue till February 1st, 2022 (Tuesday). The scrutiny of the nominations would be done on February 2, 2022 (Wednesday) and the last date of withdrawal of candidature would be February 4th, 2022 (Friday).
The nominations for the upcoming elections would be filed in the office of respective returning officers from 11 am to 3 pm from January 25 to February 1, 2022.
He said that the nominations papers are to be filed in FORM 2B. Blank forms are available with the respective Returning Officer. Typed nomination papers will also be accepted provided they are in the prescribed format.
Dr. Raju said that in order to qualify for a Vidhan Sabha seat, a candidate should be registered as an elector for any Vidhan Sabha Constituency of State. To satisfy the concerned Returning Officer on this point, candidates should produce a certified copy of the relevant entry of the electoral roll in force.
A certificate is also required to make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation in the prescribed form before the concerned Returning Officer or any other person is authorized by the Election Commission of India. The oath / affirmation should be taken/made by a candidate after his nomination before the date fixed for the scrutiny of nominations
CEO said that 26th January, 2022 is a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; Therefore, nomination papers cannot be presented to the Returning Officer on that day. 30th January, 2022 being Sunday is a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; Therefore, nomination papers cannot be presented to the Returning Officer on that day.
Model Code of Conduct has come into force in the State from the date of the announcement of elections (8 January, 2022) by the Election Commission of India and shall remain in force till the completion of the election process.
He further said that there are total 21275066 registered voters in the state for these elections, out of which 11187857 male, 10086514 female, 695 third genders, 144667 PWD voters, 110163 service voters, 1601 NRI voters and 513229 Voters are above the age of 80. There are 24689 polling stations on 14751 polling locations. All polling booths will be covered under web casting on polling day.
The voting would be held on February 20, 2022 (Sunday) from 08.00 AM to 06.00 PM and counting of votes would be on March 10th, 2022 (Thursday).
