Reservation List for Urban Local Body Chairpersons Released; Odisha Gears Up for 2027 Civic and Panchayat Polls

SEC Begins Election Preparations; Reservation List Notified for Urban Local Bodies

The Odisha State Election Commission (SEC) has released the reservation list for the posts of chairpersons of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), marking the beginning of preparations for the 2027 urban and panchayat elections.

According to the SEC, nearly 12,000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be required for the urban local body elections, while an additional 6,000 new EVMs will be procured to meet the requirement. Following the publication of the reservation list, a door-to-door survey will be conducted to ensure that voters are correctly mapped to their respective wards and polling booths.

One Booth Per Ward in NACs; Poll Notification Expected in March

The Commission has decided that each ward in Notified Area Councils (NACs) will have a dedicated polling booth to avoid voter displacement and improve election management.

The notification for both the Urban Local Body and Panchayat elections is expected to be issued in March 2027, with polling likely to be held during April or May. The Commission aims to complete the entire election process by June 2027.

Electoral Roll Revision to Begin in October

The State Election Commission will begin the electoral roll revision process from October, after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise scheduled for September.

A total of 143 Urban Local Bodies, including Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and NACs, will go to the polls.

SEC Secretary Santosh Kumar Dash said that the legal issues relating to the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation, which were pending before the High Court, have now been resolved and the necessary court order has already been issued, clearing the way for the elections.

First-Ever Door-to-Door Survey to Eliminate Ward-Level Errors

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the State Election Commission will conduct a door-to-door verification survey to eliminate ward-related discrepancies in the voter list.

The exercise aims to ensure that every voter is assigned to the correct ward and polling booth, preventing voters from being placed outside their designated electoral areas. The survey will commence in October, immediately after the completion of the SIR process.

Administrative Preparations Underway

The Election Commission has already held review meetings with Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs) and District Collectors regarding election preparedness. Another routine review meeting has been scheduled for July 21.

Preparatory work has also begun for printing various types of ballot papers, and the Commission has written to the government printing press to initiate the process.

Political Landscape Expected to Change Ahead of 2027 Polls

The 2027 Panchayat elections are expected to witness a significantly altered political landscape compared to 2022.

In the 2022 Panchayat elections, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) secured an overwhelming victory by winning 766 Zilla Parishad seats, gaining control of all district councils across the state.

However, following the 2024 General Elections, the political equations at the grassroots level have shifted considerably. More than 20 Block Chairpersons, one Zilla Parishad President, and hundreds of panchayat representatives have reportedly joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Political observers also claim that several more local representatives are likely to switch allegiance.

With these changing ground realities, political analysts believe the BJD and Congress may face a tougher challenge in countering the ruling BJP at the grassroots level in the upcoming Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections.