May 30th 2024.
Rourkela, a bustling city in the state of Odisha, is eagerly waiting to welcome its new elected representative for the Rourkela Assembly seat. Despite the recent upgradation of Rourkela Municipality to Rourkela Municipal Corporation, the city's civic body is still without an elected body to manage its day-to-day operations. The last election for the civic body was held in 2008, and its upgrade to a municipal corporation was completed in 2014. The term of the elected council, led by BJD's Rashmibala Mishra as chairperson, ended in 2013. It has been quite some time since then, but the wait for an elected body for Rourkela Municipal Corporation has yet to come to an end.
The number of wards under the civic body has increased from 33 to 40, with the addition of Jagda area and parts of Jhartarang panchayat after the upgradation to a municipal corporation. However, this move has faced significant opposition from the tribal community and legal hurdles. In 2015, a case was filed in the Orissa High Court opposing the enhancement of status. Interestingly, the current BJD member, George Tirkey, who had previously led a month-long seizure of the RMC office and filed the case in the Orissa HC, is now contesting for the Biramitrapur Assembly segment in the ongoing polls. This has raised concerns about the lack of serious effort from the BJD government to conduct elections, citing the matter as "sub-judice."
Meanwhile, Nihar Ray, former chairman of Rourkela Municipality, who is now an independent candidate after being denied a BJP ticket for the Assembly polls, has filed a writ petition in the OHC in 2021. He argues that the state government should hold elections for the 33 wards of the municipality instead of the corporation, as its status has been challenged in the court. Ray further alleges that the government is intentionally avoiding elections and is not taking the legal hurdle seriously, as it would allow them to take de facto control over the municipality by installing a commissioner.
During the monthlong siege led by Tirkey, it was noted that most of the demonstrators were not from Rourkela but from other parts of the district. This has been a cause for concern among the residents, as they are currently at the mercy of the RMC staff without any elected representative to address their issues. This situation has significantly affected the city's progress and achievements, leaving the residents wondering when the elections for RMC will finally take place. The city is eagerly waiting for an elected body to take charge and address their concerns.
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