Odisha Municipal Elections

Orissa High Court has paved the way for the long-awaited Sambalpur Municipal Corporation elections by annulling the contentious 2015 election notification. The State government must issue a fresh notification within six weeks, addressing reservation policies. This ruling ends years of electoral delays caused by legal challenges and sets the stage for fair municipal polls in Sambalpur.

President of the All India Congress Committee Mallikarjun Kharge came down heavily on the BJD government in the state and the NDA government at the centre on Wednesday. 

The district administration organised an awareness drive in Baliguda of Kandhamal district for voters. A fashion show was organised as a part of the drive during which the sub-collector along with other participants walked the ramp.

BJD’s press meet was reportedly aimed at Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his ‘alleged jibe’ at the Chief Minister & BJD president Naveen Patnaik, who was seen in a lungi in a video appeal to voters.  

Mohanty was elected from the Basta Assembly seat five times in a row since 1990 and was a minister holding several portfolios like Parliamentary Affairs, Steel, Industries and Mines, Panchayatiraj, Law, Urban Development and Information and Technology in the Naveen Patnaik government.

Truck Set On Fire Following Death Of Youth In Accident Near Jainabad On Nimapara-Pipili Road

Some people have vacated their houses and moved to safety while fire services personnel evacuated elderly people, women, children and patients from affected areas. 

It is pertinent to mention here that the 15-year-old African lioness, ‘Ganga’ died a day after being bitten by a Krait at Nandankanan zoo on Saturday.

Manjulata Kanhar, a post-graduate in political science from Sambalpur University, elected to the post unopposed.

Sangramjit Nayak, director of municipal administration, administered the oath of office to Das. Along with the new Mayor, all the 67 newly-elected Corporators were also sworn in today at the conference hall.  

Bhubaneswar city comprises three Assembly segments. Talks are doing rounds that the Deputy Mayor candidate will be from the segment whose MLA enjoys a clout in the party. 

There is a possibility of cross voting as the ruling party has not been able to notify the name of any agent for the polls. It is pertinent to mention here that the BJD has seven councilors in the civic body while the BJP has three and the Congress one.

The election will begin from 1:30PM and go on till 3PM. Thereafter, the counting will be held and the results announced. 

As the municipalities and notified area councils (NACs) in Odisha are gearing up to elect their vice-chairpersons on April 7, allegations of ruling Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD’s) involvement in horse-trading has heated up the political climate in the State.

The SEC had postponed the counting of votes in all Wards for Councillor and Chairperson of Dhamnagar NAC after the polling could not be held due to disruptions in six booths on March 24.