Face2News/Chandigarh

As per the schedule of the general election to the Lok Sabha in 2024, the elections for U.T., Chandigarh, will take place on seventh phase i.e. June 1, 2024.

The nomination process started on 7th May, 2024 and the last date of nomination was 14th May 2024. A total of 33 nominations were received from 27 candidates. The Scrutiny was conducted by Sh. Vinay Pratap Singh, Returning Officer, Chandigarh Parliamentary Constituency on 15th May 2024 after which Nomination Papers of 20 Candidates were accepted.

As per the schedule, the last day of Withdrawal of Nomination was 17th May 2024 and only one candidate Sh. Shakeel Mohamad (Independent) withdrew his candidature.

A total of 19 Contesting Candidates are now in the fray for fighting the election to 18th Lok Sabha from Chandigarh Parliamentary Constituency.

Further, the Allotment of Symbols was carried out on 17th May, 2024 at 4 p.m. in office of the Returning Officer.

Afterwards, a meeting was held by the Returning Officer, in the presence of the General Observer, Sh S.S.Gill, with all the Contesting Candidates. They Candidates were briefed about the schedule of printing of ballot papers and were also informed that they may deploy their representatives (one each for each candidate) to witness the printing process, transportation and storage of printed postal ballots. They were also briefed about the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct, submission of Worry List, if they had any, and various compliances were explained.

The Candidates were also advised to properly train their polling and counting agents.The instructions of the Commission regarding publication of criminal antecedents were again reiterated. Candidates at elections to the House of the People, Legislative Assembly who have criminal cases against them – either pending cases or cases in which candidate has been convicted, shall publish a declaration about such cases, for wide publicity, in TV Channel and newspapers with wide circulation in the constituency area.

This declaration is in a particular format, which has been shared by the Returning Officer, Chandigarh Parliamentary Constituency. The period specified for such publication will be decided with three blocks in following manner, so that electors have sufficient time to know about the background of such candidates:

1. Within first 4 days of withdrawal.
2. Between next 5th to 8th days.
3. From 9th day till the last day of campaign (the second day prior to date of poll)

Various queries of the Candidates were also addressed and compliance of Model Code of Conduct communicated to all the 19 Contesting Candidates.