Odisha NAC and Municipality elections process begins

In a significant development, the process for conducting elections to newly created Notified Area Councils (NACs) and Municipalities in Odisha has formally begun. 

The Housing and Urban Development Department has written to the District Collectors to initiate the procedures for delimitation of boundaries and reservation as part of the preparatory work for the elections.

In a letter issued by the departmental secretary, District Collectors have been instructed to complete the entire delimitation and reservation process by March. The communication has been sent to Collectors of 18 districts where 28 new NACs and seven new municipalities have recently been notified.

As per the schedule, proposals and objections related to boundary delimitation and reservation will be invited from February 12 to February 21. Following this, a draft notification on delimitation and reservation will be published on February 26.

Also Read: Odisha government notifies 24 new NACs, five municipalities

Objections and suggestions on the draft notification can be submitted up to March 13. Hearings on the objections received will be conducted between March 16 and March 28. After completion of this process, the final notification on delimitation and reservation will be issued by the respective District Collectors on March 31.

The Election Commission has earlier directed that elections must be completed within six months of the declaration of the new NACs and municipalities. In line with this directive, the Commission has emphasised the need to complete the delimitation and reservation process on a priority basis to ensure timely conduct of the elections.