The tenure of 65 urban local bodies(ULBs) of Odisha and Berhampur Municipal Corporation expired Saturday and the State Election Commission (SEC) has asked the state government to take the required steps towards their management.
The SEC asked the secretary to the housing and urban development department to take steps for management of the ULBs' affairs and Berhampur Municipal Corporation.
"As per the constitutional mandate, the elected representatives of these bodies cannot function beyond five year tenure which ends on 29.09.2018," SEC secretary U N Das said in a letter to secretary of the housing and urban development department.
The delimitation of wards and reservation of seats of the ULBs, the foremost requirement before the SEC takes up preparation of the electoral roll and conduct of elections, has not yet been received from the government and district magistrates on grounds of legal impediments, Das said in the letter.
"Thus, it appears that the commission is in no position to complete the election or initiate further election process before 29.09.2018 inspite of its best efforts due to no receipt of the ward delimitation and reservation order," the letter said.