As many as 10,809 candidates have filed the nomination papers for the May 26 elections to 105 civic bodies. The results will be declared on May 29.
The huge number of contestants seems to be an indication that the political parties are looking at these elections as its litmus test and a prequel to the state Assembly poll to be held in a few months.
According to the State Election Commission data, 2,154 persons have filed nominations for the eight municipal corporations; 7,334 for 76 municipal councils and 1,321 for 21 nagar panchayats.
The participation, according to leaders of Opposition parties, could have been much higher. These leaders from Congress and SAD have alleged that their nominees were turned away by government officials and not allowed to file nomination papers.
The BJP, in a representation to the State Election Commission on Sunday also sought the deferment of elections to the Mudki Municipal Council in Ferozepur, accusing police officers there of misconduct and obstructing them from filing nomination papers.
Saturday was the last date for filing nomination papers.
Kharar poll deferred
The elections to the Kharar Municipal Council have been deferred. Now, these will be held after a new notification is issued by the Local Government Department, said State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari.
