The Odisha State Election Commission (SEC) has postponed by-elections for various Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) seats due to the early onset of the monsoon.
This decision comes just hours after the initial announcement to conduct polls for 1,134 vacant PRI posts, citing adverse weather conditions as a key concern.
The deferred elections were set to fill five zilla parishad member seats, 41 panchayat samiti posts, 45 sarpanch positions, and 272 ward member vacancies, alongside fresh polls in 771 wards where nominations were absent in the last election. The SEC had begun electoral roll preparations on April 17, but the monsoon-related deferment has halted these proceedings.
The unexpected postponement underscores the challenges posed by seasonal weather patterns on electoral processes. Officials are expected to reassess conditions before rescheduling the polls to ensure voter participation is not hindered.
