The Odisha government on Monday released the detailed schedule for completion of delimitation of wards and reservation of seats to make way for the upcoming elections to the Urban Local Bodies in the State.
Notably, while amending the provisions regarding reservation of seats in favour of BCC category under the OMC Act 2003 in line with the Supreme Court's order earlier last month, the State government had, on December 30, 2021, passed an ordinance to conduct fresh delimitation of wards and reservation of seats for the general elections to the three Corporations of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Berhampur.
In a directive to the Commissioners of three Corporations on January 1, 2022, the State Housing and Urban Development Department has asked the concerned authorities to take immediate steps to complete the delimitation of wards and reservation of seats as per the dateline specified below.
The three Corporations have been asked to submit information on the division of wards in Form I and II along with sketch maps of the ward boundaries and reservation of seats to the State government by January 5. Similarly, the issue of draft notifications inviting objections and suggestions on the proposed delimitation and reservation exercise has been sought by January 7. The last date of receipt of objection/suggestion by the government has been fixed on January 16.
In another letter, the government has asked the Collectors of all districts to submit the fresh delimitation and seat reservation report of wards in 107 Municipalities/NACs (except those located in the scheduled areas of the State) by today (January 3, 2022).
As per the poll preparation exercise scheduled to be released by the government, the District Magistrates have been empowered to receive objections and suggestions regarding the delimitation and reservation of seats till January 12 before issuing draft notification for the same on January 13. Appeals against the publication of notifications can be received till January 27. The date of issuance of final notification on delimitation and reservation by the Collectors will be intimated later.