Punjab will conduct elections for over 13,000 gram panchayats by October 20, 2024, following a notification from the state’s rural development and panchayats department. The elections will be held under the recently passed Punjab Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which prohibits political party symbols in these elections, a move aimed at reducing groupism in villages, according to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The Punjab State Election Commission is preparing logistical arrangements for a smooth electoral process, with the model code of conduct expected to take effect soon. This follows a tumultuous period where all gram panchayats were dissolved last year, a decision that faced legal challenges and led to the suspension of two senior IAS officers. The elections are anticipated to take place in the second week of October, just after upcoming elections in Haryana. The Punjab government is optimistic about promoting holistic rural development through these elections, alongside incentives for villages achieving unanimous panchayat selections.