Junagadh Municipal Corporation (JMC), ruled by the Congress, will go to polls on July 20 to elect a new general body amid changed political situation in the civic body which has given a boost to Opposition BJP.
Along with the JMC election, bypolls will be held on the same day for 10 vacant seats in municipalities spread across nine districts in Gujarat, the State Election Commission announced today.
State In-charge Election Commissioner Mahesh Joshi said voting will be held for 60 seats spread across 20 wards of JMC and 10 nagarpalika seats in nine districts.
"A notification about the elections will be issued on June 30 and the last date to file nomination papers is July 5. Candidates can withdraw their nominations on July 8," he said.
Counting will take place on July 22, said Joshi.
Junagadh received the status of a municipal corporation in 2003 and the first election was held in 2004 for 51 seats in 17 civic wards. BJP captured power in the civic body by winning 35 seats.
However, tables turned in 2009 when Congress snatched power from BJP by winning 28 seats.
Political equations suddenly changed in JMC three weeks back when eight Congress Corporators joined BJP, reducing the ruling party to a minority.
After the recent demarcation of city limits, three new wards were added, taking the total to 20 and increasing the seats to 60.
Out of the six municipal corporations in Gujarat, Junagadh is the only one ruled by Congress.
