Punjab Notifies Re-Election in 28 Patiala MC Wards, Polls by November 18ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਨਿਗਮ ਦੇ 28 ਵਾਰਡਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੁੜ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਨੋਟੀਫ਼ਿਕੇਸ਼ਨ, 18 ਨਵੰਬਰ ਤੱਕ ਵੋਟਾਂ

The Punjab government has notified fresh elections in 28 wards of the Patiala Municipal Corporation and directed that the polls be completed by November 18, 2026, following the Supreme Court's order that set aside the earlier results in those wards.

The notification was issued by Local Government Department Secretary Ghanshyam Thori under Sections 7-A and 7-B of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, The Times of India and The Tribune reported. Babushahi reported that the notification is dated October 23. It copies the State Election Commissioner, the Patiala Deputy Commissioner and the Municipal Corporation commissioner. It does not give a polling date or a detailed schedule.

Which Patiala wards will vote again?

The affected wards are 1, 4, 6, 12, 14, 16, 22, 26, 28, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55 and 57, according to Babushahi.

Thirteen are reserved. Nine are for women (22, 33, 37, 41, 43, 51, 53, 55 and 57), two for Scheduled Castes (26 and 52) and two for Scheduled Caste women (1 and 45). The other 15 wards are unreserved, The Times of India reported.

Why did the Supreme Court order fresh polls?

The Supreme Court's September 28 order followed petitions by opposition candidates who alleged they were stopped from filing nomination papers in the December 2024 civic elections. They accused ruling-party workers of obstruction and the police of inaction, The Times of India reported.

In March 2025 the court appointed former High Court judge Justice Nirmaljit Kaur to examine the claims. Her report came in November 2025, and the court accepted its findings and annulled the results in these wards.

Who will oversee the re-election?

Under the Supreme Court's directions, a monitoring committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice Rajeev Sharma will supervise the process. Senior members of the High Court Bar will act as local commissioners for nominations, scrutiny, symbol allotment and polling. Every stage is to be videographed, and the recordings go to the committee if irregularities are alleged, The Times of India reported.

What about the two remaining wards?

The Tribune reported that the Supreme Court's order covers 30 wards in all, but fresh polls in two more wards are yet to be notified by the state government. BJP Patiala president Vijay Kumar Kuka raised the point, The Times of India reported.

The re-election is expected to heat up activity among ticket seekers and is seen by observers as a test of party organisation ahead of the next Assembly elections.

When will the Patiala MC re-election be held?

The government has asked for the process to be completed by November 18, 2026. No polling date has been announced yet.

How many Patiala MC wards are going to polls?

The state has notified 28 wards. The Supreme Court's order covers 30, and the other two are yet to be notified.

Who is supervising the Patiala civic re-election?

A monitoring committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice Rajeev Sharma, with High Court Bar members as local commissioners.