Greater Chennai Corporation Mayor R. Priya chairs the council meeting held at Ripon Buildings in Chennai on Wednesday
| Photo Credit: M. Srinath

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will hold elections to elect members of 15 Town Vending Committees (TVCs) — one for each zone — representing 35,588 registered vendors. A resolution regarding this was passed by the GCC Council, chaired by Mayor R. Priya with Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran, on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) at the Ripon Buildings in Chennai. Each committee will have 15 members.

This comes close on the heels of the GCC designating 150 vending and 188 non-vending zones in April this year. Last year, the civic body constituted a singular vending committee for the whole of the city. The formation of zonal-level committees comes after many residents and vendors suggested that the GCC assign regional and sub-vending committees to address several issues flagged by them.

The move, under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, is based on Government Order 4(D) No. 23, dated May 16, 2025, the resolution stated.

According to the GCC, each TVC will include the Regional Deputy Commissioner as Chairperson, and officials from the Corporation, police, and local bodies as members. Six members will be elected from among street vendors, with one seat each reserved for individuals belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC), and minorities, besides persons with disabilities, women, and the general category.

Two representatives from traders’ associations, two from NGOs or community-based organisations, and one from a residents’ welfare association will be a part of the TVCs.

Elections will be held on June 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. across all zones. Nominations will be accepted from June 16 to 18, with the scrutiny to be held on June 19. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is June 20. Final lists of candidates will be published on the same day. The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on June 27, as per the schedule in the resolution passed.

Returning Officers will be appointed to oversee the polling process, the GCC added.