Polls for western Odisha urban local bodies on November 22

Of the 25 local bodies in the western part of the state, elections will be held for 22

The State Election Commission (SEC) today announced poll dates for urban local bodies in western Odisha which were earlier deferred because of strike by lawyers in those areas demanding establishment of a bench of the high court.

However, out of the 25 local bodies in western part of the state, elections will be held for 22 local bodies on November 22.

The Commission has decided not to hold elections for Sambalpur Municipality, Hirakud Notified Area Council (NAC) and Rourkela Municipality as there is a proposal of the state government to convert Sambalpur and Rourkela municipal bodies into corporations.

In the first phase, the Commission had issued notification for polls in 91 areas, but had to postpone it at 25 places in nine districts due to protests from lawyers and civil society associations demanding establishment of a high court bench in western Odisha.

The commission has now decided to hold the elections there after improvement in law and order situation following the state government’s recommendation to Centre for setting up of a permanent HC bench in western and southern Odisha.

The elections will be held for 10 municipalities and 12 NACs in Sambalpur, Sundergarh, Bargarh, Bolangir, Subarnapur, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi and Nuapada districts. While nomination forms will be issued from October 28, these can be submitted by November 1, a notification issued by the SEC said.

Scrutiny of nominations will be taken up on November 4 and candidates can withdraw their candidature by November 7.

The counting of votes will be held on November 23 and election of chairpersons of the municipal bodies will be held on December 4, according to the notification.

The poll process will come to an end with the election of vice-chairpersons on December 30.

“The model code of conduct comes into immediate effect in these places with the announcement of poll dates,” State Election Commissioner Ajit Tripathy said.

The model code of conduct issued by the commission will remain effective till November 23 in these nine districts. A total of 607,715 voters would exercise their franchise at 669 booths in 342 wards in the upcoming election.