Day 1: Two file nomination papers

CHANDIGARH: While not even a single candidate filed nomination for the five municipal corporation polls, only two independent candidates filed their papers for the Jakhal municipal committee polls on Saturday.

Elections to five municipal corporations (MCs) and two municipal committees are scheduled to be held on December 16 in Haryana.

The five MCs going to polls are Hisar, Rohtak, Yamunanagar, Panipat and Karnal and the two municipal committees - Jakhal Mandi (district Fatehabad) and Pundri (Kaithal).

The poll results would be declared on December 19.

It is for the first time in the state that the voters would directly elect their mayor unlike in the past when the elected corporators of the civic body elected the mayor.

The polls hold importance for all the political majors for being reflective of the forthcoming Lok Sabha and assembly polls due next year.

Importantly, BJP and INLD have announced to contest these polls on their party symbol while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided against it.

The Congress is yet to decided on the issue.

Meanwhile, reports from Hisar said that not even single candidate filed nomination papers for the MC polls.

The additional deputy commissioner-cum-returning officer AS Mann said various departments would be keeping an eye on social media as well as expenditure of the candidates.