Odisha Politics / SEBC reservation likely to shape Odisha urban polls

Bhubaneswar, Nov 9: A major change may be on the horizon in Odisha's urban political landscape, with discussions intensifying over the possibility of reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) in the upcoming urban local body elections, officials said on Monday.

The debate gathered momentum following a statement by Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, who indicated that the State government was examining the issue. If implemented, the move could pave the way for greater political representation of backward classes in municipalities and notified area councils (NACs) across the State.

Fresh Deadlines Issued

Amid preparations for the urban polls, the Housing and Urban Development Department has revised the timeline for ward delimitation and reservation of seats. The department has directed all district collectors to complete the process within a stipulated timeframe.

According to the revised schedule, collectors have been asked to publish draft notifications on ward reorganisation and reservation by December 10. Objections and suggestions will be accepted till December 19, while provisional notifications are to be issued by December 24.

Citizens will be able to file appeals against the proposed delimitation and reservation arrangements between December 24 and January 7, 2027.

SEBC Commission at Work

The State government had constituted the SEBC Commission on October 7, 2026, under the chairmanship of retired High Court judge Justice Pramath Patnaik.

The commission has been tasked with studying the population of SEBC communities in both rural and urban areas, assessing their level of political representation, and examining indicators of social and educational backwardness.

The issue assumes significance as Odisha has already implemented 11.25% reservation for SEBC students in medical and engineering education. Political observers believe a similar reservation framework in urban local body elections could open new avenues of political participation for backward communities.
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Challenges Ahead

While political leaders across parties have responded to the proposal, the State Election Commission is simultaneously preparing to conduct panchayat and urban body elections on schedule.

With the commission's study still underway, implementing reservation and completing the electoral exercise within a limited timeframe could pose a significant administrative challenge for the government.