Bhubaneswar, Jan 24: The three-tier panchayat elections in Odisha are likely to be held ahead of schedule, with the State Election Commission (SEC) considering an early timeline in view of the upcoming population census.

Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal on Saturday indicated that the election schedule for Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads may be advanced.

Speaking on the issue, Samal said the possibility of rescheduling the polls has arisen due to the impending census exercise.

He urged elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), including sarpanches and Panchayat Samiti members, to complete all pending development works within the next six months.

“The schedule for the three-tier panchayat polls in Odisha is likely to be advanced in view of the upcoming population census. The elected PRI members should ensure that unfinished projects are completed at the earliest,” Samal said.

The state BJP chief also called upon party workers to begin preparations for the panchayat elections, asserting that the party aims for a comprehensive victory at all three levels of local governance.

“Our candidates should win in all Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads. Collective efforts are needed to achieve this goal,” he stated.

Samal further announced that the BJP is open to inducting activists and grassroots workers from other political parties who are willing to sever their previous affiliations and work towards the development of Odisha.

He said such induction programmes would be organised from the village level up to the state level ahead of the panchayat polls.

State Election Commissioner Madhusudan Padhi had recently indicated that the panchayat elections in Odisha are likely to be held in January and February next year.

Earlier, Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said the state government would conduct the elections within the stipulated timeframe and that preparatory work is already underway.

He added that the concerned department has initiated the process and that final data would be made available after the completion of the new census.

According to official sources, population enumeration in Odisha is scheduled for February–March 2027, while house listing operations in the state will be carried out from April 16 to May 15 this year.