Odisha Gears up for Rural Local Body By-Polls on June 23
21 May 2025 12:34 PM IST21 May 2025 12:34 PM IST
The by-elections have been necessitated by vacancies arising due to death, resignation, disqualification, and the de-reservation of reserved seats
State Election Commission of Odisha on Tuesday announced the schedule for by-elections to various rural local body posts.
Bhubaneswar: In a proactive move to strengthen grassroots democracy, the State Election Commission of Odisha on Tuesday announced the schedule for by-elections to various rural local body posts across the state. The elections, covering a wide spectrum of posts—from Zilla Parishad Members to Sarpanchs and Ward Members—will be held on June 23, 2025.
The by-elections have been necessitated by vacancies arising due to death, resignation, disqualification, and the de-reservation of reserved seats following the non-availability of eligible candidates. In a series of official notifications, the Commission detailed the election programme, underlining its commitment to ensuring timely representation at the grassroots level.
Filing of nominations will begin on May 26 and continue until May 31, excluding government holidays. Voting will take place from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM on June 23, with counting scheduled for the following day, June 24. The final list of elected representatives will be formally notified in the State Gazette on June 26, 2025.
To uphold the integrity of the electoral process, the Model Code of Conduct has been enforced in all concerned constituencies from May 20 to June 24, 2025.
By-elections for Zilla Parishad Member seats will be conducted in key districts such as Kendrapara, Keonjhar, and Sambalpur, covering constituencies like Derabish, Rajnagar, Ghatagaon, and Dhankauda. Simultaneously, Panchayat Samiti Member posts will go to the polls in over 40 constituencies across 21 districts, including Angul, Balangir, Balasore, Ganjam, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, and Nayagarh.
In addition, Sarpanch and Ward Member by-elections have been scheduled for several Gram Panchayats in districts like Balangir, Boudh, Cuttack, Gajapati, and Kandhamal.
Significantly, the Commission has also called for fresh elections for 771 Ward Member posts where reserved seats remained unfilled due to the absence of eligible candidates. These vacancies are spread across 13 districts, including Balasore, Kendrapara, Malkangiri, and Koraput.
The State Election Commission has directed all district and block officials to prominently display the election schedule in their respective areas and ensure strict adherence to the election code. Political parties and candidates have also been urged to follow the prescribed guidelines and submit their nominations within the stipulated timeframe.
The by-elections have been necessitated by vacancies arising due to death, resignation, disqualification, and the de-reservation of reserved seats following the non-availability of eligible candidates. In a series of official notifications, the Commission detailed the election programme, underlining its commitment to ensuring timely representation at the grassroots level.
Filing of nominations will begin on May 26 and continue until May 31, excluding government holidays. Voting will take place from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM on June 23, with counting scheduled for the following day, June 24. The final list of elected representatives will be formally notified in the State Gazette on June 26, 2025.
To uphold the integrity of the electoral process, the Model Code of Conduct has been enforced in all concerned constituencies from May 20 to June 24, 2025.
By-elections for Zilla Parishad Member seats will be conducted in key districts such as Kendrapara, Keonjhar, and Sambalpur, covering constituencies like Derabish, Rajnagar, Ghatagaon, and Dhankauda. Simultaneously, Panchayat Samiti Member posts will go to the polls in over 40 constituencies across 21 districts, including Angul, Balangir, Balasore, Ganjam, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, and Nayagarh.
In addition, Sarpanch and Ward Member by-elections have been scheduled for several Gram Panchayats in districts like Balangir, Boudh, Cuttack, Gajapati, and Kandhamal.
Significantly, the Commission has also called for fresh elections for 771 Ward Member posts where reserved seats remained unfilled due to the absence of eligible candidates. These vacancies are spread across 13 districts, including Balasore, Kendrapara, Malkangiri, and Koraput.
The State Election Commission has directed all district and block officials to prominently display the election schedule in their respective areas and ensure strict adherence to the election code. Political parties and candidates have also been urged to follow the prescribed guidelines and submit their nominations within the stipulated timeframe.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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