After the Panchayat polls, the stage is now all set for the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in Odisha as the notification for the scheduled polls was published on Monday. As per the notification, the elections to 106 urban local bodies (ULBs) and three municipal corporations will be held on March 24. Similarly, the counting of votes will be held on March 26.
There will be many firsts in the elections to be held in 47 municipalities, 59 notified area councils (NACs) and three Municipal Corporations in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur.
The State Election Commission (SEC) said that the elections to the posts of mayor in municipal corporations and chairpersons of municipalities and notified area councils (NACs) will be held directly for the first time. There will be NOTA option in the ULB elections for the first time. Voters can press the NOTA button, if they are not satisfied with any of the candidates contesting the polls.
Similarly, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in the Urban Local Body polls in the State. There will be two EVMs to be used in each booth - one to elect Mayor and another for corporators/councillors.
Schedule:
Filing of Nominations—From March 2 to March 7
Scrutiny: March 9
Withdrawal of nominations: Upto March 14
Voting: March 24
Counting of votes: March 26
Election of Deputy Mayor: April 8 Vice Chairperson Election: April 7
Details:
106 municipalities/NACs (47 municipalities and 59 NACs)
Total number of wards: 1731
Total booths: 3030
Total Voters: Over 27 lakh
3 Municipal Corporations
Total number of wards: 168
Total booths: 1407
Voters: Over 14 lakh