Ahead of the panchayat elections, politics has now heated up in Odisha with major opposition parties like BJP and Congress demanding postponement of elections in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the state. At the same time, the ruling party BJD has demanded to hold elections on time with Kovid restrictions.
During the high-level meeting held on Monday, the opposition parties have demanded to postpone the Panchayat elections for at least three months before the State Election Commission.
The main opposition party BJP has proposed a review of ST and OBC reservations before the election process begins. Senior BJP leader and opposition chief whip Mohan Manjhi demanded that the OBC reservation issue be resolved before voting so that their constitutional rights can be restored.
Mohan reiterated the 9 point proposals including OBC reservation before the State Election Commissioner (SEC). BJP leader Mohan Manjhi alleges that the Kovid transition will be at its peak during the expected panchayat elections.
The Congress has also demanded to postpone the Panchayat elections for at least 2-3 months in view of the situation of Kovid. Quoting CM Naveen Patnaik, senior Congress leader Ganeshwar Behera said, “Safety of life is the first, elections can be held after the peak of third wave covid and omicron is passed.”
Behera further said that his party had also said that tribals and other backward classes are deprived of adequate reservation and are protesting in different parts of the state. “We believe that it will not be appropriate to hold elections without giving them justice,” he said.
At the same time, senior BJD leader Amar Patnaik said, ‘The tenure of elected representatives of all rural bodies across the state will end in March. The BJD wants voters not to be deprived of their constitutional right to exercise their franchise and that elections should be held on time. We have assured our support to the Election Commission in conducting the elections strictly by following the COVID-19 protocol. ,
After the all-party meeting for the Panchayat elections in Odisha, State Election Commissioner (SEC) Aditya Prasad Padhi has said that the guidelines for holding the upcoming elections will be issued very soon. The Commission has decided to issue guidelines on the basis of the recent guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India for conducting elections in certain states. He said that the focus of the State Election Commission will be on conducting Panchayat elections in a free and fair manner, strictly following the Kovid protocol.
In a related development, the Bharatiya Vikas Parishad Sangathan moved the Orissa High Court seeking postponement of panchayat elections in Odisha citing OBC reservation and rising COVID-19 cases.
However, the State Election Commission has met Governor Ganeshi Lal and apprised him about the preparations for the upcoming Panchayat elections. The SEC has also met the Director General of Police to discuss security during elections in the state. According to sources, the notification of the election may come tomorrow. About 2 crore voters in Odisha will elect their representatives in the three-tier panchayat elections to be held this year.
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