Bhubaneswar: The Housing and Urban Development Department on Friday issued a revised schedule for delimitation and reservation of seats for the upcoming general elections to Municipal Councils, Notified Area Councils and Municipal Corporations in the state.
The schedule issued earlier has been partially revised and all concerned District Collectors, except Boudh, have been informed about the changes. As per the revised schedule, draft notifications regarding delimitation and reservation of seats will be issued by the concerned District Collectors on September 24, 2026 and objections and suggestions will be invited from the public.
The last date for submitting objections and suggestions is October 3, 2026. Subsequently, the preliminary notification regarding ward boundaries and reservation of seats will be issued on October 7. Appeals against this notification can be filed with the Housing and Urban Development Department from October 7 to October 21.
The appeals received will be forwarded by the Collectors along with their recommendations to the office of the Director, Municipal Administration through a Special Envoy by October 22. In the next phase, the State Government as the Appellate Authority will hear the appeals and take a final decision between October 26 and 28.
In the last phase, the final notification regarding re-demarcation of ward boundaries and reservation of seats will be issued by the Collectors on October 31. Copies of the final notification will be provided to the State Election Commission, State Government and the concerned ULBs.
For the four Municipal Corporations – Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur and Rourkela – separate deadlines have been fixed. By September 24, the concerned Corporations will submit information related to ward division and seat reservation in the prescribed Form-1 and Form-2, along with a sketch map showing ward boundaries and the resolution of the Municipal Corporation, to the department.
A circular notification will be issued by the Government on October 5 inviting objections and suggestions regarding the proposed re-demarcation of ward boundaries and reservation of seats in Corporation areas.
The last date for submission of objections is October 14.The department has directed the Municipal Commissioners of all four Municipal Corporations to submit all necessary information and documents within the stipulated time limit and to complete all procedures related to delimitation and reservation in a smooth and timely manner.
