Panchayat Polls In Odisha: SEC To Issue Guidelines Soon, Oppn Seeks Postponement, PIL In HC; Check Details

Bhubaneswar: State Election Commissioner (SEC) Aditya Prasad Padhi on Monday said guidelines for conducting the upcoming panchayat elections in Odisha will be issued soon.

Padhi said this after an all-party meeting here to discuss the polls. The SEC discussed holding of the panchayat polls with the parties amid the prevailing COVID-19 situation in Odisha and sought their views and suggestions.

While the Opposition BJP and Congress demanded postponement of the polls because of the COVID-19 situation, the BJD wants the polls to take place without any delay.

In the meeting, the Opposition demanded postponement of the polls for at least three months on two grounds: COVID third wave and reservation for ST/OBC candidates.

“The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has already issued guidelines on the conduct of Assembly elections in several states. We are framing similar guidelines to ensure free, fair and safe elections in the state. The guidelines will be issued soon,” Padhi said, after the meeting.

Padhi said the SEC’s priority will be on holding free and fair polls with strict compliance with COVID protocols.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Vikas Parishad on Monday moved the Orissa High Court seeking deferment of the panchayat elections in view of the Omicron-fuelled third wave and OBC reservation issue.

Following a meeting of its top officials with Padhi, the state government on Saturday announced its readiness to conduct the three-tier panchayat elections.

The government, in three Gazzette notifications issued on the day, called upon the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to elect people’s representatives to different posts.