Gandhinagar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will publish the first final voter list on February 17, which had been delayed due to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Based on this finalized voter list, the State Election Commission will begin the process of dividing voters into wards and constituencies for the upcoming local self-government body elections.

The procedure — from the initial publication of ward-wise lists, inviting objections and suggestions, to the release of the final list — will require a minimum of 60 days to complete.

Given this timeline, local elections in Gujarat are likely to be conducted after approximately three months, most probably in May or June. But there’s a hypothesis that if the opposition Congress party challenge the final voters list in the Court, which its several leaders have said they intend to do, then any stay in their favor may delay the local polls further. The elections are generally not held in the Monsoon season. The next possible schedule could be in winter in that circumstances.

Currently, the tenure of elected representatives in six municipal corporations — Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, and Jamnagar — is set to end at the close of February. In addition, more than 71 municipalities will also complete their terms during this period. Consequently, administrators will be appointed in all these urban local bodies and will remain in charge until new representatives are elected and the first general body is constituted.

Similarly, administrators will also be appointed in 31 district panchayats and more than 240 taluka panchayats starting March.

It is noteworthy that within the next three months, elections are expected in 15 municipalities, including nine newly formed municipal corporations, over 81 municipalities, 33 district panchayats (including one newly created district), and more than 258 taluka panchayats.

These local body elections are being viewed as a significant political test ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

According to election officials, since the voter list preparation process itself requires at least 60 days, the elections are expected to be held only after three months. DeshGujarat