Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The three-tier panchayat elections in Odisha scheduled for February 2022 are likely to get delayed due to inordinate hold-up in the completion of the ward delimitation and reservation works by the State government.
According to the reports, Secretary informed the State Election Commission by stating that they have written to the State government multiple times asking it to complete the delimitation and reservation process for the conduct of rural polls as per schedule. But, the government has not yet commenced the works raising apprehension of delayed elections this time.
The report further stated that the Commission would prepare the groundwork for the polls once the two important works get over. The tenure of elected representatives at all rural bodies across the State will end on March 10, 2022. So, the delimitation and reservation works should complete before the polls.
As per the Supreme Court order, the State should ensure a 50 per cent reservation of seats in the panchayat elections. The reservation of seats was more than 50 per cent during the rural polls last time, which was a gross violation of the order of the apex court.
Although the government has not yet clarified the reason for the delay, it is said that an ongoing pandemic has come in the way of completing the activities.
