The State Election Commission (SEC) has asked the State Government to take steps for the completion of delimitation of wards and reservation formalisation of wards and offices of Chairpersons and Mayors of the urban local bodies by 31 January, 2018.
SEC Secretary RN Sahu has written to the Government in this regard while reminding of completion dates of various UlB councils.
According to sources, terms of at least 66 UlBs, including Brahmapur Municipal Corporation, will expire on September 30, 2018, of 20 UlBs December 4, and of two UlBs will end on December 9, 2018.
While Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s term will complete on January 17, 2019, Cuttack Municipal Corporation and Baripada Municipality terms will expire on February 13, 2019. Balangir and Titilagarh Municipality terms will expire July 11, 2019.
From this, it is understood that elections to 91 UlBs, including three MCs, are likely to be held by December 2018.
As Article 243-U of the Constitution stipulates that elections to constitute an urban council must be completed before expiry of concerned urban body’s five-year term, the SEC has asked the State Government to complete delimitation and reservation formalities early so that elections can be conducted well before time.
As per the SEC direction, the State Government will now undertake and complete ward delimitation and reservation revision of the offices of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of the municipalities and Mayors and Deputy Mayors of municipal corporations in a stipulated time frame.
After completion of these formalities by January 31, the SEC will prepare the Electoral Rolls and identify the polling stations for UlB elections.