Polls for nine UlBs on April 7

Nine urban local bodies (UlBS), including four newly-constituted Notified Area Councils (NACs), in the State will go to polls on April 7. This was announced by State Election Commissioner RN Senapati here on Tuesday. Votes would be counted April 8, he said.

Stating that notifications in this regard have already been issued, Senapati said the model code of conduct has come into force with immediate effect. The process of filing nomination papers would be conducted between March 16 and March 19. The candidates can withdraw their papers on March 26.

The UlBs where elections would be held are Balimela, Sunabeda, Rairakhole, Paradip, Belpahar and the four new NACs of Dharamgarh, Tusara, Daspalla and Ranpur. As many as 1,60,155 voters would exercise their franchise in the nine UlB elections between 8 am and 5 pm on April 7. EVMs would be used for voting.