The Pioneer 22.10.2013
Polls in 22 W Odisha ULBs scheduled on Nov 22
Commission on Monday notified the schedule for holding elections to 22
of the 25 left-out urban local bodies (ULBs) in nine western Odisha
districts.
Polling to the 342 wards would be held on November 22 and counting of
votes and poll results would be announced on November 23. While the
elections to the posts of chairmen would be held on December 4, those
for vice-chairmen would be conducted on December 30, State Election
Commissioner Ajit Kumar Triapthy said.
The model code of conduct has come into force with immediate effect in
the limits of the concerned ULBs with the issuance of the notification
and would remain in force till completion of the elections on November
23.
The formal process of election would start with issue of a notice by
the concerned Election Officers on October 25, following which
candidates can file nominations between October 28 and November 1.
Scrutiny of papers would be conducted on November 4 while withdrawal of
nomination papers and publication of list of contesting candidates would
take place on November 7. The entire poll process would be over by
November 24.
The SEC decided not to hold elections for the Sambalpur Municipality,
Hirakud NAC and Rourkela Municipality as there is a proposal for
formation of Sambalpur and Rourkela Municipal Corporations, said
Tripathy.
The SEC had announced the poll date to 91 ULBs, including one Municipal
Corporation (Brahmapur) on August 12. But the elections to 25 ULBs in
western Odisha were postponed on August 30 in the face of the lawyers’
strike opposing the polls till a High Court Bench was not established in
the region.
The fresh poll schedule has been made in respect of 22 ULBs in
consultation with the concerned district Collectors and the State
Government, Tripathy said.
Voting would be conducted through EVMs at 669 booths and an estimated
6,07,715 voters would exercise their franchise. While 50 per cent of the
seats would be reserved for women candidates, the SEBC would get 27 per
cent reservation.
As per the poll code, no new projects of any kind would be started nor
would any financial concession be announced by the Government or any
official agency which may affect voters. No Minister, MP and MLA would
spend nights at any Government bungalow.
