The State Government on Monday announced the assignment of the offices of the Mayors of the two municipal corporations in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack ahead of the upcoming elections in the two civic bodies.
According to a notification issued by the Housing and Urban Development department on Saturday last, the office of the Mayor of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has been reserved for Scheduled Caste women candidates. However, the Mayor post in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) would be assigned to general candidates.
According to the Commissioner-cum-Director Municipal Administration HK Tripathy, the final decision relating to the proposal of reservation of offices of Mayors of the BMC and the CMC was taken after considering the suggestions received from all persons. He said that the Housing and Urban Development department had earlier on October 24 last had through a notification invited a suggestion from the public within fifteen days’ period from the date of the notification on the issue of reservation for the post of Mayor in both the municipal corporations.
Meanwhile, the holding of elections to the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is unlikely within the due date on December 10 next as it required at least 40 days from the receipt of the booth wise revised electoral rolls from the Sub-Collector to start the process.
Due to the delay in the finalistion of revised electoral rolls, the elections to the BMC are likely to be announced by January 5, 2014. The term of the BMC is to expire on December 9 next and the new council should be constituted by December 10. With the reorganisation of the booths, the total number of booths has increased to 661 from 635 and the delay in the revision of electoral rolls due to cyclone has caused a delay in finalisation of the electoral list. However, the election to the CMC is to be held in time in February next.