Punjab civic polls: IAS & PCS officers appointed as general observers

Chandigarh: To ensure free and fair local body elections, the state election commission (SEC) has deployed IAS and senior PCS officers as general observers across all 23 districts of Punjab.The high-stakes municipal general elections, covering eight municipal corporations, 76 municipal councils and 21 nagar panchayats, are scheduled to take place on May 26. The announcement comes amid escalating political activity across the state as major political parties, including the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), accelerate their candidate selection and campaigning. This election is widely viewed by political analysts as a crucial litmus test for all major factions ahead of the next Assembly polls next year.