Municipal Corporation elections in Himachal on party symbols

Tribune News Service
Shimla, February 23

The Cabinet on Tuesday paved the way for holding of Municipal Corporation elections on party symbols.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, here today.

The Cabinet decided to carry out amendments in Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1994 and Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Elections Rules, 201 to pave for holding of MC elections on party symbol.

These amendments would also pave the way for providing reservation for OBCs, provision of disqualification on grounds of defection and provisions for no-confidence motion.

With the government taking a final call on the holding of MC elections on party symbol basis, the Bill for making the necessary amendments in the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1994 and Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Elections Rules, 201 are likely to be tabled in the Vidhan Sabha during the ensuing budget session.

The elections for the four municipal corporations of Dharamsala, Mandi, Palampur and Solan and the six newly constituted Nagar Panchayats of Anni and Nirmand (Kullu), Chirgaon and Nerwa (Shimla), Kandaghat (Solan) and Amb (Una) will be held any time before April, later this year. While Dharamsala is an old MC, the other three are newly created.