Shimla Municipal Corporation elections on June 16: SEC

The Shimla Municipal Corporation election will be held on June 16, the State Election Commission (SEC) announced on Monday, hours after the high court gave it an ultimatum to publics poll schedule within 24 hours.

With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct came into force with immediate effect within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipal corporation and will remain in force till June 17, a spokesman of the SEC said.

As per an SEC notification, the election will be held from 8 am to 4 pm on June 16 and counting of votes will take place on June 17. Nomination papers will be filed on June 2, 3 and 5. Scrutiny would take place on June 6 and the withdrawal of nominations would be allowed up to June 8.

The election is not being fought on party symbols.

Different symbols to candidates would be allotted by the SEC.

Earlier on Monday, the Himachal Pradesh High Court directed the SEC to announce the schedule of election to the civic body within 24 hours and conduct the polls by June 18.

The election to the civic body had been deferred by the poll panel following complaints of discrepancies in electoral rolls. The poll panel had also ordered revision of electoral rolls, to be completed by 23 June.

The five-year term of the present corporation expires on June 4.