State Initiates Reservation Exercise

The Odisha Panchayati Raj Department has initiated preparations for the 2027 Panchayat elections by issuing directives to all district collectors to begin the process of seat reservation. Instructions have been given to determine reservations for Ward Members, Sarpanches, Panchayat Samiti Members, and Zilla Parishad Members.

Officials have been asked to submit the final reservation report to the State Election Commission by April 2026.

Timeline for Objections and Finalisation

As per the schedule, objections to the draft reservation list for Ward Members, Sarpanches, and Samiti Members can be submitted by the 17th of the month. Hearings on these objections will be completed by the 24th, and the final reservation list will be submitted by the 29th.

Similarly, for Zilla Parishad Members, objections can be filed by the 17th, hearings will continue until the 27th, and the final list will be approved by the government and submitted to the Election Commission by the 30th.

For Zilla Parishad Chairpersons, the draft notification will be issued on the 13th, while the final notification will be published on the 29th.

Reservation Limits and Quotas

The reservation policy will follow previous norms, ensuring that total reservation remains within 50 percent. Other Backward Classes (OBCs) will receive up to 27 percent reservation, while 50 percent of seats will be reserved for women across categories.

No Panchayat Reorganisation Before Polls

The state government has decided not to undertake any reorganisation or delimitation of Panchayats or Blocks before the 2027 elections. Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik stated that the decision was taken due to constitutional constraints and the lack of updated population data.

Political Parties Begin Ground Preparation

Meanwhile, political parties have started gearing up for the upcoming elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party has launched a “Gaon Chalo” campaign until the 12th of this month, aiming to strengthen its grassroots presence. Party leaders are conducting village-level meetings and explaining development plans to the public.

On the other hand, the Biju Janata Dal has announced that its leader Naveen Patnaik will soon tour districts across the state to highlight alleged failures of the current government.

Election Buzz Gains Momentum

With administrative processes underway and political activities intensifying, the stage is gradually being set for the 2027 Panchayat elections in Odisha, which are expected to witness strong competition at the grassroots level.

The post Panchayat Elections Scheduled for 2027; Reservation Process Begins in Odisha appeared first on Odisha Connect.

Just days after a major IAS-level reshuffle on February 5, the Odisha government on Thursday announced another round of transfers and additional responsibilities for several senior bureaucrats. The latest move is aimed at improving administrative efficiency and strengthening key departments amid evolving governance priorities.

Bhupendra Singh Poonia Given Additional Sports Portfolio

Bhupendra Singh Poonia, currently serving as Secretary of Skill Development and Technical Education, has been entrusted with the additional charge of the Sports and Youth Affairs Department.

This development comes after the government withdrew the additional sports portfolio from Sachin Ramchandra Yadav, who was recently appointed as Agriculture Secretary. The reassignment signals a strategic redistribution of responsibilities within the state administration.

D. Prasanth Kumar Reddy Appointed IDCO Managing Director

In another significant decision, D. Prasanth Kumar Reddy, who is already heading the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department, has been appointed as the Managing Director of the Industrial Development Corporation of Odisha (IDCO).

The move is seen as part of the government’s efforts to streamline industrial development and boost investment facilitation in the state.

Rashmita Panda’s BDA Posting Cancelled

Rashmita Panda’s recent appointment as Vice Chairman of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has been cancelled. She will now take charge as Secretary of the MSME Department and serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Odisha Remote Sensing Application Centre (ORSAC).

The reassignment is viewed as an administrative recalibration aimed at aligning leadership roles with departmental priorities.

Surendra Kumar Meena Assigned CMGI Role

Surendra Kumar Meena, currently Additional Secretary in the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department, has been given additional responsibility as Executive Director of the Centre for Modernising Government Initiative (CMGI).

The appointment is expected to strengthen institutional reforms and governance modernization efforts in the state.

Sunil Narawane Gets Additional Charge at IPICOL

Sunil Narawane, Director of Industries, has been assigned the additional charge of Managing Director at the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (IPICOL).

He will continue to oversee the Odisha Small Industries Corporation (OSIC) and the Odisha State Financial Corporation (OSFC), maintaining continuity in industrial and financial institutional leadership.

Government Focused on Administrative Efficiency

Sources indicate that the reshuffle reflects the Odisha government’s continued efforts to enhance governance efficiency and ensure better coordination across departments.

With evolving developmental priorities and investment goals, the state administration appears focused on optimizing leadership roles to drive performance and policy implementation.

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