India, Sept. 17 -- The State Election Commission (SEC), which was rebuked by the Supreme Court on Tuesday and directed to hold local body polls by January 31, 2026, is expected to complete the pre-poll process by October end and announce the elections in three phases. Elections to over 685 local bodies, including 29 municipal corporations, 32 district councils, and hundreds of nagar panchayats and nagar parishads are likely to begin by October end and continue until January 31.

The ward-formation process for the district councils and panchayat samitis was completed last month, while that of the municipal corporations is likely to conclude by September 25. The reservations for the wards and heads of the poll bodies as well as the ward-wis...