Odisha Sets March Deadline for Ward Delimitation in 35 New Urban Bodies to Facilitate Timely Polls

The Odisha Housing and Urban Development Department has kicked off the process for delimitation of wards and reservation of seats in 28 newly constituted Notified Area Councils (NACs) and 7 Municipalities, paving the way for general elections in these urban local bodies (ULBs).

In a letter issued by Director of Municipal Administration Arindam Dakua, district magistrates of 18 districts have been directed to complete the exercise by March 31, 2026, in line with the Odisha Municipal Act, 1950.

The move follows the creation of these new ULBs, as notified by the state government in December 2025. The State Election Commission (SEC) has emphasised the need to finalise delimitation and reservation to enable timely elections, which must be held within six months of the notifications—potentially by June 2026. The SEC’s communications, dated January 15, 2026, highlight the constitutional mandate under Article 243-ZA for the preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of elections.

According to the schedule outlined in the department’s letter:

On February 12, 2026, district magistrates will issue draft notifications for ward delimitation and seat reservation, inviting objections and suggestions.
Objections can be submitted until February 21, 2026.
Provisional notifications will be published on February 26, 2026.
Appeals against the provisional notifications can be filed from February 26 to March 13, 2026.
Hearings on appeals will occur between March 16 and 28, 2026, with decisions communicated to district magistrates.
Final notifications will be issued by March 31, 2026, and copies sent to the SEC, government, and concerned ULBs.

The new ULBs span districts including Angul, Balangir, Balasore, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Boudh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Kalahandi, Khordha, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Sambalpur, and Subarnapur. Notable ones include Pallahara NAC in Angul, Boudhgarh Municipality in Boudh, and Karanjia Municipality in Mayurbhanj. The process for Odagaon NAC in Nayagarh, which was not finalized earlier, is also included.

The SEC has also called for similar processes in existing ULBs where terms expire in April 2027, including major corporations like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Berhampur, some of which have undergone area expansions requiring fresh delimitation.

This initiative ensures compliance with constitutional provisions for fair representation, including reservations under Article 243-T. District magistrates are required to forward any appeals with comments to the department by March 15, 2026. Officials have been urged to adhere strictly to timelines, superseding previous instructions.

The elections are expected to cover over 100 ULBs, including those from the 2022 polls, marking a significant step in strengthening urban governance in Odisha.