A total of 174,437 voters will exercise their right to vote on June 19 during the polling for the Ludhiana West by-election*
Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Himanshu Jain stated that the administration is fully prepared to conduct the by-election in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
Jain stated that 192 polling stations across 66 locations have been established to facilitate voting. The voter demographic includes 89,602 males, 84,825 females, and 10 individuals identifying as third gender in the Ludhiana West assembly. Additionally, the electorate comprises 100 service voters, 2,039 senior citizens, 2,896 young voters (aged 18-19), 17 overseas voters, and 1,234 persons with disabilities (PWD).
To enhance the voting experience, the administration will set up 10 model polling booths. These include one managed by women, one by PWD staff, and one eco-friendly "green" polling booth. Polling will take place from 7 AM to 6 PM, with vote counting scheduled for June 23, 2025.
According to the election program, the notification for the by-election has been issued today. The last date for filing nominations is June 2, and the scrutiny of nomination papers will occur on June 3. The last date for withdrawal of candidatures is June 5. The polling will be held on June 19 from 7 AM to 6 PM, with counting on June 23.
Nominations will be accepted between 11 AM and 3 PM, with only five individuals, including the candidate, allowed during the filing process. Candidates must be registered voters in any constituency within the state. Security deposits are set at Rs 10,000 for general category candidates and Rs 5,000 for SC/ST candidates, to be deposited before or during the nomination filing. A certified copy of the voter list must accompany the nomination form for candidates from outside Ludhiana. Recognized parties require one proposer, while independents and unrecognized parties need ten.
Jain added that the maximum limit for election expenses for an Assembly Constituency has been fixed at Rs 40 lakh. Furthermore, any election expenditure incurred by candidates or political parties exceeding Rs 10,000 must be made using a crossed account payee cheque, draft, RTGS, NEFT, or any other electronic mode linked to the candidate's bank account opened for election purposes. The rates for every election item have been set by the Election Commission. To assist in monitoring of electioneering, several Flying Squad Teams (FST), Static Surveillance Teams (SST), Video Surveillance Teams (VST), and Video Viewing Teams (VVT) have already been formed.
The District Election Officer also mentioned that the Election Commission of India has developed the Candidate App Suvidha, which allows candidates and political parties to allocate public spaces for meetings and rallies. This application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and helps users track their nomination and permission statuses. Additionally, "Know Your Candidate" (KYC) app has also been developed to inform voters about candidates' criminal antecedents.
Jain emphasized the administration's commitment to ensuring a peaceful and transparent electoral process, enabling all voters to exercise their democratic rights without hindrance. He also directed all enforcement agencies to strictly adhere to the Model Code of Conduct, stating that strict action would be taken in case of any violations within the district, in accordance with ECI guidelines.
The DEO instructed officials to remove all political posters and hoardings from public properties under the jurisdiction of the Ludhiana West assembly. He also mentioned that 24x7 CCTV surveillance of breweries, bottling plants, warehouses, and godowns to prevent unauthorized liquor distribution will be ensured and emphasized continuous monitoring of liquor vends and thorough checks of vacant houses, plots, and flats near these facilities, which could be used for illicit liquor storage.
Jain reiterated the district administration’s commitment to upholding ECI guidelines, fostering a transparent and fair electoral process. He called for cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure the by-poll is conducted smoothly and peacefully.