Bhubaneswar: Odisha state BJP president Manmohan Samal on Saturday indicated that the upcoming panchayat elections could be held earlier than scheduled, possibly two to three months ahead of the census.
Speaking to party functionaries and elected local representatives, Samal said the panchayat elections are likely to be announced within the next six months, citing the census as a possible reason for advancing the timeline, and urged party workers to complete unfinished development works within this timeframe.
“The common people at the grassroots level are still deprived in many ways. We must win every block, every panchayat, every zilla parishad, and every ward. BJP needs to
build leadership at all levels,” he said.
Samal emphasised on preparedness at all levels and strengthening the party’s presence at the grassroots. He instructed sarpanchs and samiti members to prioritise pending development projects in their areas over the next six months to improve public perception ahead of the elections.
To boost membership and expand the party’s base, Samal outlined plans for “Mishran Parva” (merger festivals) at various levels — from panchayat to state headquarters. “Those joining at the panchayat level will be inducted through panchayat-level events, assembly-level through assembly-level events, and district-level through district events. This will continue up to the state BJP office in Bhubaneswar,” he explained.
The BJP’s push comes amid speculation about the panchayat election timeline.
While official schedules from the State Election Commission point to polls likely in January-February 2027, Samal’s remarks suggest the possibility of an advanced schedule to precede the national census, which requires updated local population figures.