The State Government on Wednesday informed the State Election Commission (SEC) about its preparedness for the ensuing three-tire panchayat polls scheduled in February.
A notification issued by Panchayati Raj Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary DK Singh read, “In pursuance of Sub-Rule (2) of Rule-3 of the Odisha Zilla Parishad Election Rules, 1994, the State Government do hereby call upon the Parishad Constituencies of all the Zilla Parishads in the State to elect members of the Parishads in accordance with the provisions of the Odisha Zilla Parishad Act, 1991 (Odisha Act 17 of 1991) and the Rules made there under”.
Singh said a Gazette notification in this regard would be issued on December 23 for fixing of poll dates. “The Government has issued notification over its preparedness for the elections. Gazette notification regarding it will be issued on December 23. After then, the Election Commission will declare the date of the polls and model code of conduct will come into force,” the Panchayati Raj Secretary said.
Meanwhile, poll expenses of contestants have been hiked. While sarpanch and samiti member candidates can spend up to `80,000, Zilla Parishad candidates can spend up to `2 lakh.
In another development, the Election Commission cancelled a scheduled all-party meeting on the ensuing rural polls on the day as BJP, Congress and left parties did not turn up for the meeting.
The opposition parties staged a demonstration in front of the commission office arguing how an all-party meeting was convened by the SEC on the day when the BJP was observing a Bhubaneswar bandh.
Reportedly, the panchayat elections are likely to be held in February first week. In 2012, the panchayat elections were held between February 11 and 19. Since the tenure of the current panchayats is apsing on March 10 next, the SEC has decided to start the poll process before March.