Odisha initiates mayor election process for Sambalpur, Puri Municipal Corporations

The Odisha government has formally initiated the process for electing mayors in the Sambalpur and Puri Municipal Corporations by issuing a draft notification on the reservation of the mayor posts on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.

The Housing and Urban Development Department released the proposal under the provisions of the Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003, inviting public feedback before the reservation is finalised, according to officials.

What has been proposed for each corporation?

As per the draft notification, the mayor post in Sambalpur Municipal Corporation has been proposed as Unreserved, while the mayor post in Puri Municipal Corporation has been reserved for the Scheduled Caste (Woman) category. Officials clarified that the Sambalpur seat remains open to all eligible candidates irrespective of caste or gender, whereas the Puri seat is specifically earmarked for a woman candidate belonging to the Scheduled Caste community. The distinction follows the guidelines set out in the Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003, which governs the reservation of municipal offices.

How can the public respond?

The state government has invited objections and suggestions from members of the public regarding the proposed reservation. Citizens can submit their representations in writing to the Director of Municipal Administration within 15 days from the date of publication of the notification. Officials said, "All objections and suggestions received during the stipulated period will be examined before the government takes a final decision on the reservation of the mayor posts." This statement underscores that the administration will review every piece of feedback received within the two‑week window before moving forward with any finalisation.

What happens next?

The notification marks the beginning of the election process for the two municipal corporations, paving the way for the conduct of mayoral polls after the reservation is finalised. Once the public consultation period ends and the government reviews all submissions, a final reservation decision will be made. Thereafter, the electoral machinery will be set in motion to schedule and hold the mayoral elections for Sambalpur and Puri Municipal Corporations, completing the process that began with the issuance of this draft notification.