ECP Aligns With Punjab’s New LG Law, Grants Four Weeks to Set Rules for Fresh Delimitations

Overview

• ECP said Punjab’s local polls will be held after completion of a new delimitation process mandated by the Punjab Local Government Act 2025.
• The commission withdrew its earlier order and the previous delimitation schedule because the 2022 law was repealed by the new act.
• Punjab has been given four weeks to finalize rules for delimitations, after which the ECP says a fresh election schedule will be issued immediately.
• The Chief Secretary and the Secretary of Local Government have been summoned to the ECP on Thursday, 30 October, to finalize arrangements.
• The new law allows candidates to contest without party symbols and affiliate with parties after election, a clause critics say could face legal challenges and favor the ruling party through post-poll alignments.