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Bhubaneswar: Even as ‘No court, No vote’ slogan of the lawyers in Western Odisha seeking High Court bench is showing no signs abatement, the election process for 22 urban local bodies (ULBs) including 10 municipalities and 12 Notified Area Councils (NACs) in nine districts began today with the filing of nominations.
The members of Bolangir Bar Council protested the poll process at the Municipality office triggering tension on the premises. In view of possible untoward situation, Section 144 has been clamped on the campus.
“We had convened a meeting on October 25 on bench issue with all political parties and common people. A resolution to boycott urban elections was unanimously passed in the meeting and accordingly we are protesting filing of nominations peacefully today”, Bolangir Bar Council president said.
“We appeal to all natives of western Odisha to join the stir for our valid cause. No violent means will be adopted during the protest. We respect, but not break the law”, he added.
As per the notification issued by the State Election Commission, the scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on November 4 while elections are scheduled for November 22. Results will be declared on November 23.
The ULB elections will be held in Balangir, Bargarh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Sundargarh districts.
However, the Commission has decided not to conduct elections to Sambalpur and Rourkela civic bodies as the State government has announced to upgrade these two municipalities to municipal corporations. Similarly, poll to Hirakud NAC will not be held as it will be a part of Sambalpur corporation.
The western Odisha lawyers had stalled the September 19 urban elections in nine districts. They called off the strike on September 29 after chief minister Naveen Patnaik recommended the Centre to set up high court benches in western and southern parts of the State.
