Odisha Revises Schedule for Ward Delimitation and Seat Reservation Ahead of Municipal Polls

The Odisha Housing and Urban Development Department has issued a revised schedule for completing the ward reorganisation/delimitation and seat reservation process ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.

The revised schedule will apply to 99 municipalities and Notified Area Councils (NACs), excluding the four municipal corporations of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur and Rourkela, as well as Boudh district.

For the four municipal corporations, the respective commissioners will submit details related to ward delimitation and seat reservation to the department by October 8. The information will have to be submitted in Form-1 and Form-2 along with sketch maps.

The draft notification for the four municipal corporations will be published on October 22, while October 31 has been fixed as the last date for submitting objections and suggestions.

For the 99 municipalities and NACs, the respective Collectors will publish draft notifications on October 12 and invite objections and suggestions. The deadline for filing objections and suggestions is October 21.

Following the publication of the preliminary notification on October 28, appeals can be filed before the Housing and Urban Development Department between October 28 and November 11.

The Collectors will forward the appeal petitions along with their views to the Director of Municipal Administration by November 12. The appeals will be heard and final decisions taken between November 18 and 25.

After incorporating necessary corrections, the final notification is scheduled to be published on November 30, 2026.

The department has directed the concerned municipal corporation commissioners, Collectors and executive officers of urban local bodies to strictly adhere to the revised timeline and complete the ward delimitation and seat reservation process within the stipulated period.

The revised schedule is part of the preparations for the forthcoming municipal elections in Odisha.