In a significant development leading up to the December 15 elections, the Arunachal Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) announced that 63 candidates have been declared elected unopposed for various seats in the upcoming Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) and municipal polls. The announcement came after the deadline for nomination withdrawals on Saturday, streamlining the electoral process and reducing the need for contests in several constituencies.
The SEC’s provisional figures indicate that out of the total nominations received, a substantial number progressed without opposition, particularly in Zilla Parishad and municipal wards. This outcome reflects strong party dominance, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) securing the lion’s share of uncontested victories.
Breakdown of Uncontested Wins and Remaining Contests
The elections cover 27 Zilla Parishads (245 seats), 2,103 Gram Panchayats (8,182 seats), the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) with 20 wards, and the Pasighat Municipal Council (PMC) with 8 wards. Key highlights include:
| Category | Total Seats | Nominations Received | Unopposed Wins | Candidates Contesting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zilla Parishad (ZP) | 245 | 600 | 59 | 440 for 186 seats | BJP: 58 uncontested; NPP: 1 uncontested |
| Gram Panchayat (GP) | 8,182 | 10,550 | 4 | N/A | 13 GPs with no nominations; 14 rejections; Polling countermanded in Dumba Singpho GP due to candidate’s death |
| Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) | 20 | 101 | 4 | 39 for 16 wards | All BJP nominees |
| Pasighat Municipal Council (PMC) | 8 | 28 | 0 | 21 for 8 wards | No uncontested seats |
Vacant seats arising from no nominations, rejections, or the countermanding in Dumba Singpho will be addressed through by-elections post the main polls. Nominations closed on November 24, with scrutiny completed on November 26.
Voter and Polling Logistics
The single-phase elections will engage 8,31,648 eligible voters, comprising 7,59,210 for panchayat seats and 72,438 for municipal bodies. Polling will occur across 2,171 stations for rural PRI, 67 for IMC, and 12 for PMC. Notably:
- Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used exclusively for municipal elections.
- Ballot papers will be employed for panchayat polls, marking the 12th general PRI elections since the 1967 NEFA Panchayat Regulation and the third for IMC and PMC.
Vote counting is scheduled for December 20, 2025, with the entire process concluding by December 23.
SEC’s Statement and Implications
The State Election Commission highlighted the uncontested elections as a procedural efficiency, stating: “Sixty-three candidates have been elected unopposed ahead of the December 15 municipal and panchayat elections in Arunachal Pradesh.” Officials emphasized that these provisional figures underscore the Model Code of Conduct’s (MCC) effective enforcement since November 15, ensuring a peaceful lead-up to the polls.
The high number of BJP uncontested seats (62 overall) signals the party’s stronghold at the grassroots level, potentially easing campaign pressures in those areas. However, the remaining 440 ZP contestants, 39 IMC aspirants, and 21 PMC hopefuls will vie for the contested seats, injecting competitiveness into the urban and select rural segments.
These local body elections are pivotal for Arunachal’s decentralized governance, focusing on issues like infrastructure, rural development, and urban amenities in the state’s diverse terrains. With by-elections planned for unresolved seats, the SEC aims to achieve full representation without delays.
(Source: India Today NE)
