BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has revised the election regulations ahead of the election for deputy mayor in three municipal corporations.

On Monday, the housing and urban development department issued two separate notices to enforce the new rule for deputy mayor and vice-chairperson elections in several Odisha urban local bodies (ULBs).

The new regulation allows political parties to appoint agents, and the election officer will allow the authorised agents to verify the votes cast by elected members of their respective parties, similar to how the Rajya Sabha elections were conducted.

"In pursuance of the provisions of the Odisha Municipal Corporation (division of city into wards, reservation of seats, and conduct of election) Rules, 2003, the government has been pleased to decide that every political party whose member as an elector casts a vote for the purpose of election to the office of deputy mayor of a municipal corporation may appoint one authorised agent," one of the notifications read.

Prior to the election day, the president or general secretary of the state-level political party or state unit of the national party must submit the details of the authorised agent in writing to the election officer.

"Allow the authorised agent of that political party to verify as to whom such elector has cast his vote when an elector who is a member of that political party writes his vote on a ballot paper and before such elector enters that ballot paper into the ballot box," it stated.

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