Gangtok, March 23 – The Sikkim State Election Commission announced on Monday that elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will be held on April 24, with polling scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Counting of votes and announcement of results will take place on April 25, while the term of the current elected representatives will end on May 5.
State Election Commissioner KC Lepcha said that the election process formally began with the issuance of the notification on March 23. Nomination filing will continue until March 30, followed by scrutiny on April 1. The last date for withdrawing candidacies has been fixed as April 4.
The Model Code of Conduct has come into effect immediately.
Lepcha emphasized that the elections will be conducted in a free, fair, and inducement-free manner. He added that preparations have been completed in coordination with district administrations and election officials, and consultations have been held with political parties.
According to the Commission, a total of 63 wards across urban bodies will go to polls, covering 93,697 voters, including 47,170 males and 46,527 females. The electorate has increased by 14.5 per cent, while the number of wards has increased by 23 per cent following delimitation.
The Gangtok Municipal Corporation has the largest share with 21 wards, 69 polling stations, and 58,703 voters.
Other urban bodies include the Namchi Municipal Council with 7 wards and 6,095 voters, the Singtam Nagar Panchayat with 5 wards and 4,998 voters, and the Rangpo Nagar Panchayat with 5 wards and 16,276 voters.
The Pakyong and Soreng Nagar Panchayats are newly constituted. Pakyong has 5 wards, 9 polling stations, and 1,443 voters, while Geyzing, Soreng, and Mangan Nagar Panchayats have 2,662, 2,043, and 2,662 voters respectively.
The elections will be conducted with reservations implemented along community and gender lines, officials said.
