Odisha State Election Commission Postpones Bypolls Due to Early Monsoon

The Odisha State Election Commission has decided to postpone the upcoming bypolls originally scheduled for May 22 due to the early arrival of the monsoon season. This decision comes after feedback from district officials and the public raised concerns about potential disruptions to the electoral process. The commission has canceled the notification for the by-elections and will reschedule them for after the rainy season. The India Meteorological Department has indicated that the southwest monsoon is expected to reach Kerala earlier than usual, prompting this precautionary measure. Stay tuned for updates on the new election dates.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 21, 2025, 22:31 IST

Bypolls Delayed in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Election Commission announced on Wednesday that it has postponed the bypolls for several three-tier panchayat institutions originally set for May 22, due to the anticipated early arrival of the monsoon season in the area, according to an official statement.

On Tuesday, the commission had released a notification regarding the by-elections for 1,043 vacant ward member positions, along with 43 sarpanchs, 40 panchayat samiti seats, and 5 zilla parishad members, with polling dates set for May 22 and June 25.

However, considering the early monsoon forecast, the commission has canceled the notification for these by-elections, stating that the polls will now take place after the rainy season concludes, as confirmed by a SEC official during a press briefing.

Following the notification's release, feedback from district officials, the public, and prospective candidates indicated concerns about potential disruptions to the electoral process due to the early monsoon and the inconvenience it could cause voters.

In response, the commission requested a report from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) based in Bhubaneswar.

According to the IMD's findings, the southwest monsoon is expected to reach Kerala within the next three to four days, significantly ahead of the typical start date of June 1.

The conditions for the monsoon's arrival are becoming favorable for certain regions in the southern and central Bay of Bengal, the official noted.

As a result, the commission has decided to reassess its previous decision and postpone the by-election schedule in light of the early monsoon forecast.