Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 3: Nine urban local bodies including four newly constituted notified area councils (NACs) in the state will go to polls April 7. The state election commission (SEC) issued a notification to this effect Tuesday.
Briefing the media here, Election Commissioner RN Senapati said, “Elections will be held in nine ULBs April 7, while the vote count and announcement of the results will take place the next day, April 8.”
The ULBs up for polls are Balimela, Sunabeda, Rairakhole, Paradip, and Belpahar.
The four NACs are Dharamgarh, Tusara, Daspalla and Ranpur, Senapati stated. “As the notification in this regard has already been issued, the model code of conduct will come into force from the date of announcement of the poll dates.”
As per the notification, the process of filing nomination papers will be between March 16 and 19, and the scrutiny of the nominations March 23. After this, the list of candidates will be released. The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is March 26, after which the final list of candidates contesting the poll will be made public.
As many as 1,60,155 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in these ULBs between 8am and 5pm, April 7. Polling will be held in 198 booths spread over 144 wards in these ULBs. Arrangements will be in place well in time to conduct the poll smoothly.
The SEC has appointed observers, both general and expenditure in the poll-bound areas. Voting will be done using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs),” he said.
An election officer has been appointed for each ULB. These officers will issue notices March 10 for the elections.