Bhubaneswar: In a surprise move, the State Election Commission has cancelled the notification for the by-election to several vacant posts in the panchayat body, just a day after it was issued.
The decision comes in light of the early onset of monsoon in the state, which may disrupt the poll process and cause inconvenience to voters.
The notification had been issued on June 20 for the by-election to 1043 vacant Ward Member seats, 43 vacant Sarpanch seats, 40 vacant Panchayat Samiti Member seats, and 5 vacant Zilla Parishad Member seats. The poll was scheduled to commence from May 22, 2025, and conclude on June 25, 2025.
However, after receiving feedback from District Officials, the general public, and intending candidates, the Commission sought a report from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Regional Office in Bhubaneswar. Based on the IMD’s forecast of an early monsoon onset in the state, the Commission has decided to postpone the by-elections until after the monsoon season is over.
