Polls for Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) and Baripada
Municipality will be held on February 6, the State Election Commission
(SEC) announced here on Friday.

After the State Government gave a
go ahead, the SEC notified the poll schedule for the two urban local
bodies. Election will be held for 59 Wards in Cuttack Municipal
Corporation whereas Baripada will go to polls for 28 Wards.

According
to State Election Commissioner Ajit Kumar Tripathy, the election
officers for the two ULBs will issue notices on January 8 when the
process will kickstart. Nomination will be filed between January 13 and
18 and scrutiny held on January 20. Candidates can withdraw their
nomination on January 24 when the final list will be published.

While
the two ULBs will go to polls on February 6, counting and declaration
of results will be held a day later. Election for Mayor of CMC and
Chairperson of Baripada Municipality will be conducted on February 13.
Their deputies will be elected on March 1. The Mayor post of CMC is
reserved for Scheduled Caste woman candidate whereas the Chairperson of
Baripada Municipality is reserved for a woman candidate.

With the
announcement of the elections, the model code of conduct has come into
effect and it will remain in force till February 7 within the limits of
the two ULBs. During this period, the Government as well as the ULBs
cannot take up any new work within the limits of BMC as well as
neighbouring gram panchayats. Except normal developmental work, no new
work can be started. The State Government has been barred from
announcing any specific project for these two ULBs.

According to
the SEC, around 3,94,810 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise
in Cuttack while their number in Baripada stands at 68,854. CMC has 422
booths while Baripada has 78.