Bhubaneswar: Election process for two Zilla Parishad (ZP) seats, six sarpanchs, eight panchayat samiti members and 84 ward members scheduled on March 24 was postponed by the State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday in view of Coronavirus aka COVID-19 outbreak.
“Whereas, the State Election Commission takes into consideration the emerging challenges posed by COVID-19 and is of the view that continuing with the election schedule may be detrimental and harmful to public health at large due to movement of large number of polling personnel as well as voters in the ensuing by-elections. Now, the SEC in exercise of the powers conferred under Article 243K of the Commission of India with due consideration of the present gravity of the situation and the ground realities directs that the ensuing by-elections process shall be postponed with immediate effect until further orders,” said a notification issued by the SEC.
The move comes after a youth with travel history to Italy was tested positive for the virus on Sunday night. It is the first Coronavirus case in Odisha. Two persons have died in Karnataka and Delhi due to the Coronavirus.
