Bhubaneswar, April 11 -- The seat reservation process for the 2027 Panchayat elections in Odisha has been initiated by the Panchayati Raj Department, with directions issued to all district collectors to complete the exercise across Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad levels by April 2026, in order to streamline electoral preparations and ensure category-wise allocation of constituencies.

With the process underway, uncertainty has been created among aspiring candidates and local leaders. Concerns are being raised over which areas may be reserved and who may benefit, particularly regarding allocations for women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 

It has been mandated that objections to draft notifications for war...