Chandigarh: The coming months are going to be very important for the Punjab government and the political parties of the state. Although politically the next few months will be very active and important, but if seen from the development point of view, it is going to have a profound impact on the development of the state because the effect of the election code of conduct will be seen more in Punjab in the next few months. In other words, the election code will be implemented repeatedly in Punjab in the coming months
There is a buzz in the corridors of power that by-elections may be announced on four assembly seats in Punjab in November-December. Although by-elections were expected to be held on four assembly constituencies Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Barnala and Chabewal along with the Haryana assembly elections to be held on October 5, the Election Commission did not announce the elections. According to the Constitution, elections are required to be held within six months on a seat vacated by the resignation of an MLA, so elections can be held by mid-December. Delhi assembly elections are expected to be held in November or December. Along with this, by-elections can also be held on four assembly seats in the state.
Similarly, elections of more than six dozen municipal councils including four municipal corporations Jalandhar, Phagwara, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala are also pending. The matter has reached the High Court due to the Local Bodies Department not conducting these elections for the last one and a half years. The High Court has issued an order to the Principal Secretary of the Local Bodies Department to file an affidavit regarding the reason for the delay in conducting the elections and when the elections will be held. Similarly, panchayat elections are also pending. This matter has also reached the High Court. The government has confirmed that elections will be held soon in the High Court. In the assembly session held in the first week of September, the government has also amended the Panchayati Raj Act to conduct elections without party symbols.
Recently, around 75 Panchayat Samitis including Zira, Amloh, Banga, Nathana, Jhanir Bagha Purana, Rajpura, Samrala, Machhiwara, Dasuha, Talwara, Nachohira Pannua, Sardulad, Nihal Singh Wala Khamano, Ghanaur, Patiala, Malod, Garshankar, Majri, Sadowa Bamiyal, Nabha, Patran, Jagraon, Khanna, Faridkot, and, Ferozepur, Kheda, Dehlo, Raikot, Dinanagar, Dorangala, Kotkapura, Attari, Kalanoor, Moga, Samana, Patti Khuhian Sarwar, Abohar, Nawan Shahar, Sangat, Makhu, Dera Baba Nanak, Noor Mahal, Andana Anandpur Sahib, Shahkot, Mehatpur have expired.
In such a situation, whenever the government conducts these elections, the election code will be implemented in the state. Talking about the two and a half years of the government's tenure, there has been nominal development in cities and villages. The implementation of the election code of conduct will affect development work. The state government will have only one and a half years to do development work. It will be interesting to see how many public welfare works will be done in one and a half years, because in mid-2026 the government and political parties come into election mode.