CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu state election commission will hold polls to various posts in urban local bodies -- 21 corporations, 138 municipalities and 490 town panchayats -- in the state in a single phase on February 19, said state election commissioner V Palanikumar.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Palanikumar said polling will commence from 7am and will conclude at 6pm on February 19. Voters with Covid-19 infection or Covid-like symptoms can exercise their franchise in the last one hour of polling.
The commission will take up the counting of votes from 8am on February 22 and declare the results on the same day. The filing of nomination papers will commence from 10am on January 28. The candidates can file nomination papers from 10am to 5pm. The nominations will close on February 4. The commission will scrutinize the nominations on February 5. The candidates can withdraw the nomination papers on or before February 7.
The poll process will be completed by February 24 and the newly-elected members will assume charge and hold their maiden meetings on March 2.
The councillors in corporations, municipalities and town panchayats will be elected directly while mayors and deputy mayors in corporations and chairman and vice-chairman in municipalities and town panchayats will be elected indirectly. The commission will hold the indirect elections on March 4 for the posts of mayors and deputy mayors in corporations, chairman and vice-chairman in municipalities and town panchayats.
