Bhubaneswar, Oct. 19: The state election commission today postponed the election of vice-chairpersons of all notified area councils of the cyclone-affected Ganjam district and the deputy mayor of Berhampur Municipal Corporation.

According to a fresh notification issued by the commission, the polls for electing the vice-chairpersons and the deputy mayor of the municipal corporation would be held on November 5.

The chairpersons concerned and the mayor will issue the poll notice on October 29. Earlier, the election of vice-chairpersons was scheduled to be held on October 22.

The 17 notified area councils, where the poll for vice-chairpersons has been rescheduled are Hinjlicut, Kavisuryanagar, Khalikote, Kodala, Polsora, Purusottampur, Rambha, Aska, Belguntha, Buguda, Chhatrapur, Chikiti, Digapahandi, Ganjam, Gopalpur, Soroda and Bhanjanagar.

Senior officials in the commission said the decision was taken following the request of the Ganjam district collector.

“As the entire district administration is busy with the post-cyclone relief and restoration operations, the decision to reschedule the poll for vice-chairpersons is a welcome step. The focus right now should be on restoration of normality, which has been severely affected by the cyclone,” said the newly-elected mayor of Berhampur, K. Madhavi.