Haryana Local Body Elections announced; Model Code of Conduct comes into force
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, April 13, 2026: The Haryana State Election Commission has announced the schedule for Municipal and Panchayati Raj elections across the state, with polling set to take place on May 10. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into immediate effect in all concerned areas.
State Election Commissioner Devinder Singh Kalyan said the elections will cover key urban and rural bodies, along with by-elections for 528 vacant posts across the state.
General elections will be held for the posts of Mayors and Councillors in Municipal Corporations of Ambala, Panchkula, and Sonipat.
Polls will also take place for the President and ward members in Rewari Municipal Council, and the Municipal Committees of Sampla, Dharuhera, and Uklana.
Additionally, by-elections will be conducted for six ward member seats in municipal bodies of Tohana, Jhajjar, Rajound, Tarawadi, Kanina, and Sadhaura.
In the rural segment, elections will be held in selected Gram Panchayats in Hisar and Kaithal districts, along with bypolls for 528 positions including Panch, Sarpanch, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad members.
Key Dates Announced
- Notification for nominations: April 15
- Filing of nominations: April 21 to April 25
- Scrutiny: April 27
- Withdrawal of nominations: April 28
- Polling: May 10 (8 AM to 6 PM)
- Counting (Municipal bodies): May 13
- Counting (Panchayats): May 12 or same day after polling (if required)
Eligibility and Spending Limits
The Commission has outlined minimum educational qualifications for candidates, with variations for general, backward classes, women, and Scheduled Castes across municipal and पंचायत posts.
Expenditure limits have been fixed at ₹30 lakh for Mayoral candidates and ₹7.5 lakh for municipal members. In Panchayati Raj institutions, the cap is ₹2 lakh for Sarpanch and ₹6 lakh for Zila Parishad members. Candidates must submit expense details within 30 days of results.
Candidates with criminal backgrounds must disclose their cases publicly through newspapers and local TV channels. Voting will be conducted through EVMs, with NOTA option available.
To ensure free and fair elections, heavy police deployment and senior observers will be appointed. Voter slips will be distributed door-to-door ahead of polling to facilitate smooth participation.
The Commission has urged voters to participate actively and exercise their democratic rights without fear or discrimination.