Five-phase panchayat polls to start in Odisha from February 16

BHUBANESWAR: The state election commission (SEC) on Tuesday announced the dates for the panchayat elections, to be held in five phases from February 16, but without public rallies and roadshows owing to the surge in Covid cases.
Election will be conducted on alternate days while counting will be held for three days, starting February 26.
For the first time, counting will be done centrally in block headquarters. Model code of conduct will remain in force till February 28, when counting will come to an end.
Around 2.79 crore rural voters will exercise their franchise in the three-tier panchayat polls to elect 91,913 ward members, 6,794 sarpanches, 6,793 panchayat samiti members and 853 zilla parishad members.
The panchayat polls is being conducted in the backdrop of zero reservation for backward communities, who comprise nearly half of state’s total population and could be one of the issues that the opposition may use to target the BJD with even as the ruling party has announced to field 40% candidates from the OBC category.
Political parties in search of panchayat poll success
The three major political parties in the state – BJD, BJP and Congress – are pulling out all stops to improve their performances in the three-tier panchayat elections whose dates were announced on Tuesday despite the opposition’s request to postpone it by three months.
While the rural polls, except for the post of zilla parishad member, are not fought on party symbols, all the three parties are set to field affiliated candidates for posts like sarpanch and samiti member. The panchayat election results will also set the tone for the 2024 general elections in the state.
Armed with a massive organizational base and pro-poor and populist schemes of the state government, the ruling BJD is eyeing to form the zilla parishads in maximum districts and to continue its dominance in state politics.
The BJP, which emerged as the main opposition party in the 2017 panchayat polls, pushing the Congress to third position, is looking to further improve its tally compared to previous elections. Marred by infighting, the Congress is also looking to fight back.
Elections were held in 846 zilla parishad zones in 2017, with the BJD winning 473 seats to become the single largest party, while the BJP finished second by securing 297 seats by increasing its tally manifold. The Congress could manage to bag only 60 seats.
Senior BJP leader Mohan Majhi said the party is fully prepared for the panchayat polls. “The ruling party seems to be apprehending that people are dissatisfied with it because of which it had recently announced series of measures to lure the voters. Despite all efforts, the people will reject the ruling dispensation,” said Majhi.
Majhi also targeted the state government for depriving the backward classes of their constitutional rights by not reserving seats for them in the rural polls.
BJD Rajya Sabha member Amar Patnaik said the ruling party will adhere to all Covid restrictions imposed by the poll panel. “The BJD is always with the people. Our government led by chief minister Naveen Patnaik has always worked for the welfare of people. People will bless those who are with them. We are confident of doing well,” said Patnaik.
Congress veteran Suresh Routray the State Election Commission should ensure fair and impartial conduct of the rural polls. “The people will punish the BJP and BJD for the rise in prices of essential commodities. The people will bless Congress this time,” said Routray.
All the three parties are expected to hold meetings soon to oversee the poll process and finalize their campaign strategy.
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