Bhubaneswar, May 21, 2025 ( Newshub Desk)– The Odisha State Election Commission (SEC) has postponed the upcoming Panchayat by-elections, originally scheduled for June 23, due to the early onset of the monsoon.
The decision was made after receiving feedback from district officials and candidates, who expressed concerns about heavy rainfall and thunderstorms disrupting the electoral process.
The by-polls were set to fill 1,131 vacant positions, including 1,043 Ward Members, 40 Samiti Members, 43 Sarpanchs, and five Zilla Parishad Members.
However, the SEC decided to put the elections on hold after consulting the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which confirmed the likelihood of early monsoon conditions.
SEC Secretary Santosh Kumar Dash stated that new poll dates will be announced once the monsoon subsides, ensuring a safe and smooth electoral process. The nomination process, initially planned between May 26 and May 31, has also been postponed.
This delay underscores the challenges posed by seasonal weather patterns on electoral activities. Officials will reassess conditions before rescheduling the polls to ensure voter participation is not hindered.
