Without waiting for a response from the Odisha Government, the State Election Commission (SEC), has finally given its consent for the Urban Local Body (ULB) polls in the nine districts of Western Odisha to be held in November. An official notification will be published after the puja holidays. The SEC’s decision came after the state government failed to make its stand clear despite several letters written by the poll body.
The polls in 25 ULBs in nine districts could not be held on September 19 due to the economic blockade in Western Odisha, thanks to the poll boycott call given by the lawyers and backed by all political parties.
Soon after the polls in 66 ULBs in other parts of the state, the Odisha Government has declared to make Sambalpur and Rourkela Municipal Corporations. A notification has already been released for Sambalpur, while final word is awaited for Rourkela.
The nine districts that would go to ULB polls in November are Sambalpur, Balangir, Sonepur, Deogarh, Sundargarh, Kalahandi, Nuapara, Bargarh and Jharsuguda.
