Odisha State Election Commission defers Panchayat By-Poll Schedule
Bhubaneswar, May 21 (UNI) The Odisha State Election Commission has cancelled its earlier notification for conducting Panchayat by-elections on June 23, citing the early onset of the monsoon.
The original notification, issued on Wednesday, called for by-elections to fill 1,043 vacant Ward Member seats, 43 vacant Sarpanch seats, 40 Panchayat Samiti Member seats, and 5 Zilla Parishad Member seats.
The Commission had invoked its authority under Article 243K of the Constitution of India, Section 13(2) of the Odisha Gram Panchayat Act, 1964, and Rule 3-B(4) of the Odisha Gram Panchayat Election Rules, 1965, to announce the schedule for the by-elections.
It had also released the timetable for filing nominations, scrutiny, withdrawal of nominations, and the polling date.
These by-elections were necessitated due to vacancies resulting from deaths, resignations, disqualifications, or the de-reservation of reserved seats due to a lack of eligible candidates.
The poll process was scheduled to begin on May 22 and continue until June 25.
However, soon after the notification was issued, the Commission received feedback from district officials, members of the public, and prospective candidates expressing concern that monsoon rains, expected to arrive early, could disrupt the poll process and inconvenience voters.
In response, the Commission sought a report from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Regional Office in Bhubaneswar.
The IMD reported that conditions are likely to become favourable for the onset of the monsoon over Kerala within the next 3–4 days.
It also noted that similar conditions are developing over the South and Central Bay of Bengal, the North Bay of Bengal, and parts of the Northeastern states.
Given this forecast, the early onset of the monsoon in Odisha appears likely. Taking this into account, the Commission reviewed its earlier decision and decided to defer the poll schedule.
Accordingly, the by-election notification has been cancelled, and the elections will now be held after the monsoon season is over, the Secretary of the State Election Commission confirmed.
