The Chairmen in Municipalities and Mayors in municipal corporations are set to be elected by the people by direct voting with the Odisha government on Friday issuing draft notification to amend the Odisha Municipal (Delimitation of Wards, Reservation of Seats and Conduct of Election) Rules,1994.
At present, the heads are being chosen by Councillors and Corporators.
The Urban Development Department issued the draft which will be taken into consideration by the State Government on or after the expiry of a period of thirty days from the date of publication of this notification in the Odisha Gazette.
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Any objection or suggestion which may be received by the Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, from any person in respect of the said draft before expiry of the period so specified will be considered by the State Government.
According to the draft, these rules may be called the Odisha Municipal (Delimitation of Wards, Reservation of Seats and Conduct of Election) Amendment Rules,2021. They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Odisha Gazette.
“In the Odisha Municipal (Delimitation of Wards, Reservation of Seats and Conduct of Election) Rules, 1994 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), in Chapter III, in the heading, for the word "Councillors", the words "the Chairperson and Councillors" shall be substituted,” the draft notification said.
"Every nomination paper shall be signed by two electors of the Municipality concerned in case of the office of the Chairperson and in case of office of Councillor by two electors of the ward concerned as proposer and seconder and the candidate shall sign a declaration on it expressing his willingness to stand for election for the office proposed," it added.