The Arunachal Pradesh State Election Commission (APSEC) has announced that elections to the state’s Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and municipal bodies in Itanagar and Pasighat will be conducted in December this year. The announcement marks the beginning of the long-awaited local body election process, aimed at strengthening grassroots governance across the state.
In its recent notification, the APSEC directed officials in all districts to start immediate preparations for the upcoming polls. The commission has also instructed authorities to ensure the implementation of seat reservations for women across zilla parishads, gram panchayats, and municipal bodies, in accordance with constitutional provisions.
As per the notification, the commission has set October 30 as the deadline for issuing official poll notifications. Ahead of this, the draw of lots to determine seats reserved for women candidates will be conducted in several districts, including Changlang, Itanagar, Keyi Panyor, and Kurung Kumey. The draws in Changlang, Itanagar, and Kurung Kumey are scheduled for October 28, while Keyi Panyor district will hold its draw on October 29.
In Itanagar, the draw for the reservation of seats in the municipal corporation will take place at the DK State Convention Centre at 11 am on October 28. The process will be conducted under Section 15(2) of the Arunachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 2019, which mandates that one-third of the total seats must be reserved for women belonging to the Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST).
Officials said the draw event in Itanagar will be attended by MLAs from the Itanagar and Doimukh constituencies, the mayor and deputy mayor, all 20 ward corporators, and representatives from major political parties. The commission has emphasized the importance of transparency in the process and invited the media and civil society representatives to witness the proceedings.
Similarly, in Keyi Panyor district, the draw of lots will be conducted at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall in Yachuli on October 29, while in Kurung Kumey, the draw covering Lower and Upper Koloriang Zilla Parishad constituencies will take place at the DC’s Conference Hall in Koloriang. In Changlang, the process will be held the same day at the district headquarters.
District Election Officers, including Shweta Nagarkoti Mehta, have confirmed that invitations have been extended to public representatives, government officials, political party members, women’s organizations, and accredited media personnel to ensure an open and participatory process. All Block Development Officers (BDOs) have also been instructed to widely disseminate information about the draws and encourage the involvement of panchayat representatives.
The APSEC has made it clear that the exercise is time-bound, and reports from all districts must be submitted on the same day the draws are conducted. This step will enable the commission to issue the official election notifications by October 30 without delay. The entire procedure will be held under tight security arrangements, with personnel deployed at all designated venues to ensure smooth conduct.
Political parties, Zilla Parishad members, Gram Panchayat members, and Gram Panchayat Chairpersons have been asked to actively participate in the process, which forms a crucial part of preparing for the upcoming elections. The draws will decide which constituencies and wards will be reserved for women candidates, paving the way for a more inclusive and representative local governance structure.
