The elections to 105 local bodies in Punjab, including eight Municipal Corporations, will be held on May 26. These elections, being held just months before the Vidhan Sabha polls, are expected to set the political tone for all parties in the fray as these are being seen as a precursor to the 2027 Assembly elections.As many as 36.72 lakh voters — 18.98 lakh male, 17.73 lakh female and 226 others — will participate in the polls, where all political parties will vie to woo urban voters. Elections are being held in 2,019 wards across eight municipal corporations, 76 municipal councils and 21 nagar panchayats.As many as 3,977 polling stations will be set up and around 36,000 personnel will be deputed for the elections, besides 35,500 police personnel for security purposes. The State Election Commission will also depute IAS and PCS officers in each district as election observers.Announcing the poll schedule, State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari said nominations would be filed between May 13 and 16, scrutiny of nominations would take place on May 18 and counting of votes will be held on May 26. The last date for withdrawal of nominations has been fixed as May 19.The model code of conduct came into immediate effect in the areas falling within the jurisdiction of these poll-bound local bodies.These elections are being viewed as a prelude to the “big electoral battle” for the Vidhan Sabha elections due in a few months. In Punjab’s politically charged atmosphere, where the ruling AAP is seen to be on the back foot following defections by its Rajya Sabha members and an onslaught of Enforcement Directorate raids, and with a resurgent BJP and SAD besides a strong-cadre Congress still weighing its options, the civic polls are expected to shape the political narrative ahead of the Assembly elections.The elections are likely to serve as a litmus test for all parties in the fray and are expected to witness intense campaigning. Given the timing of the polls, civic issues may take a backseat, while broader state issues, including law and order, are likely to dominate the campaign discourse.Elections to nine municipal corporations were due, but polls to the Hoshiarpur Municipal Corporation have been postponed because of technical flaws in ward demarcation, Chaudhari said, adding that elections would now be held for the municipal corporations of Bathinda, Moga, Pathankot, Batala, Mohali, Abohar, Barnala and Kapurthala.Earlier, the state government had dissolved these urban local bodies and appointed administrators to oversee civic functioning till the elections were announced.The elections to Sham Chaurasi Municipal Council will also be held later due to issues concerning reservation of wards. The elections in both places will be conducted within a few weeks, the SEC said.Chaudhari has also ordered videography of the nomination filing process to ensure transparency. “The expenditure limit for these elections has been fixed between Rs 1.40 lakh and Rs 4 lakh. We will ensure that the polls are conducted in a free and fair manner,” he said.