Odisha begins ward delimitation process for municipal elections

The Odisha government has set in motion the process for delimitation of wards and reservation of seats ahead of the general elections to Municipalities and Notified Area Councils (NACs) across the state.

- POST NEWS NETWORK

The Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department Monday directed District Magistrates of 18 districts to complete the statutory exercise within a fixed timeline, in accordance with the provisions of the Odisha Municipal Act, 1950.

The move follows the state government's decision to constitute 28 new Notified Area Councils and seven Municipalities for the first time. However, the delimitation and reservation process in some newly-formed urban local bodies, including Odagaon NAC, is yet to be finalised.

The State Election Commission (SEC), Odisha, has informed the government that completion of ward delimitation and seat reservation under Sections 11 and 12 of the Act is mandatory before further election-related steps can be taken.