Panchayat elections in Odisha likely in Jan–Feb next year: State Election Commissioner

The Odisha State Election Commission on Saturday indicated that the next Panchayat elections in the state are likely to be held in January and February next year.

Addressing the media, the State Election Commissioner Madhusudan Padhi said a fresh election would be conducted as the tenure of the existing Panchayat bodies is coming to an end. A preparatory meeting was held today to review arrangements and chalk out the roadmap for the upcoming Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections.

The State Election Commissioner informed that a door-to-door voter survey would be carried out for both Panchayat and municipal elections to ensure accurate and updated electoral rolls. The voter survey is expected to be completed by March this year. However, he noted that the process may be delayed by about a month due to the census exercise.

Clarifying doubts, Padhi said the voter survey has no connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. He added that booth reorganisation may be undertaken wherever required to improve voter convenience.

The primary objective is to ensure that polling booths are located as close as possible to voters’ residences, Padhi said.

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“The panchayat elections will be held in January-February next year as the tenure of the existing Panchayat and Urban bodies is coming to an end. We are meeting all the District collectors, sub collectors, deputy collectors, district panchayat officers, and municipal commissioners. The last meeting was held in Sambalpur on January 13, and the next meeting will be held on January 20 at Chatrapur,” Padhi informed.