Odisha Sets March 31 Deadline for ULB Delimitation Ahead of Elections
The Odisha Housing and Urban Development Department has announced March 31, 2026, as the deadline for completing ward delimitation and seat reservation in 35 newly created Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
This move is aimed at ensuring timely general elections in these areas, which must be conducted within six months of their official notification, by June 2026.
The newly formed ULBs include 28 Notified Area Councils (NACs) and seven municipalities spread across 18 districts, such as Angul, Balangir, Balasore, Boudh, Cuttack, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, and Rayagada.
Notable examples include Pallahara NAC in Angul, Boudhgarh Municipality in Boudh, and Karanjia Municipality in Mayurbhanj.
The delimitation process follows constitutional mandates under Article 243-ZA (elections) and Article 243-T (reservations), as well as provisions of the Odisha Municipal Act, 1950.
Draft notifications were issued on February 12, 2026, with objections accepted until February 21. Provisional notifications were published on February 26, followed by an appeal window until March 13.
Hearings on appeals are scheduled between March 16 and March 28, with final notifications to be issued by March 31.
The State Election Commission has also directed similar exercises in existing ULBs, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Berhampur, where terms expire in April 2027.
With over 100 ULBs set to go to the polls, this marks a significant step in strengthening urban governance across Odisha.
