Election to Shimla Municipal Corporation on May 27

Shimla, Apr 27: Elections to 25-member Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) would be held on May 27, which will also see for the first time a direct vote for the post of Mayor and his deputy, it was announced on Friday, Apr 27.

The model code of conduct for elections has come into force with immediate effect. As per the schedule notified by the state Election Commission, counting of votes would take place on May 28.

Nominations would be filed on May 5 to May 8 (between 11 AM to 3 PM), scrutiny of papers would be done on May 9 while the last date for withdrawal is May 11.

The list of all contesting candidates showing the names and symbols allotted to them shall be prepared and affixed immediately after the withdrawals. The list of polling station shall be pasted on or before May 5 and polling would take place from 7.00 AM to 4.00 PM.

It would be for the first time that the election for the post of Mayor and the deputy mayor would be through direct vote and 50 per cent wards -- thirteen out of 25 wards --have been reserved for women candidates.

The SMC is controlled by Congress ever since the first elected body was installed in 1986 and the party swept the five Municipal Corporation polls held so far.

The number of voters is about 81,000 this time as compared to 1.32 lakh in the last elections as a large number of duplicate names have been deleted.

PTI