Bhubaneswar, May 21: In a swift reversal, the State Election Commission has cancelled its notification for the upcoming panchayat by-elections, just a day after announcing the poll schedule. The move comes in response to the early onset of the monsoon, which officials say could disrupt the electoral process and pose difficulties for voters.
The by-elections were scheduled to fill 1,043 vacant Ward Member seats, 43 Sarpanch positions, 40 Panchayat Samiti Member posts, and 5 Zilla Parishad Member seats. Polling was to be conducted from May 22 to June 25, 2025, with voting day set for June 23.
However, after consultations with district authorities, members of the public, and prospective candidates, the Commission sought an official weather forecast from the Regional Office of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar. Based on IMD’s prediction of an early monsoon in the state, the Commission opted to defer the by-elections until after the rainy season.
A fresh schedule will be announced once conditions are deemed conducive for polling.
