Itanagar – With the announcement of the upcoming Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) and municipal elections, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has been enforced across Arunachal Pradesh with immediate effect. The code will remain in force until the polling day on December 15, 2025.
The State Election Commission announced the election schedule on November 15, stating that panchayat and municipal elections (for Itanagar and Pasighat) will be held simultaneously in a single phase on December 15. Counting of votes is scheduled for December 20, and the entire election process will conclude by December 23.
Key Election Statistics:
- Total voters: Approximately 8.32 lakh (7.59 lakh for panchayat + 72,438 for municipal bodies)
- Panchayati Raj Institutions: 27 Zilla Parishads (245 seats), 2,103 Gram Panchayats (8,181 seats)
- Municipal bodies: Itanagar Municipal Corporation (20 wards) and Pasighat Municipal Council (8 wards)
- Polling stations: 2,171 for panchayat, 67 for Itanagar, and 12 for Pasighat
- Voting method: Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for municipal elections; ballot papers for panchayat elections
These will be the 12th general elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions since the 1967 NEFA Panchayat Regulation and the third for the Itanagar and Pasighat municipal bodies.
Major Provisions of the Model Code of Conduct:
- Use of religious places for election propaganda is prohibited
- No activity that may aggravate communal tensions
- Prior permission required for use of loudspeakers
- Complete ban on distribution of liquor 48 hours before polling
- Campaigning restricted near hospitals and educational institutions
- False statements, defamatory content, or bribery of voters (cash, liquor, distribution of meat by slaughtering mithun/pigs, etc.) strictly prohibited
- Prior permission mandatory for processions and public meetings; traffic rules must be followed
- On polling day, voter slips must be on plain paper (no party symbols or candidate names)
Additionally, the State Election Commission has fixed expenditure limits:
- Zilla Parishad Member (ZPM): Maximum ₹3 lakh
- Gram Panchayat Member (GPM): Maximum ₹50,000
State Election Commissioner Rinchin Tashi has appealed to all political parties, candidates, and government officials to fully cooperate in ensuring free, fair, and peaceful elections. Special security arrangements will be made in sensitive districts such as Tirap, Changlang, and Long/HTMLding.
The primary objective of the Model Code of Conduct is to maintain transparency and a fear-free environment during the election process. Strict action will be taken against any violations.
(Source: India Today NE, The Arunachal Times, PTI, and other credible news outlets)
