Komna voters may tilt the balance

With the Nuapada Assembly constituency heading to bypolls soon, Komna block holds a decisive position.

- POST NEWS NETWORK

In most past elections, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has secured a significant majority from this block, helping the regional party clinch victory.

Former MLA Rajendra Dholakia won the seat four times—thrice on a BJD ticket and once as an Independent candidate. Komna has long been considered his political stronghold and vote bank. The combination of the BJD’s “Sankha’ (conch) symbol, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s popularity, and Dholakia’s personal influence had kept Komna voters loyal to the party.

In the 2024 Assembly elections, Dholakia won by a margin of 10,881 votes securing around 3,047 more votes than his nearest rival in Komna block alone. Both the BJD and Dholakia enjoyed strong support in the area.

However, the political equation has now changed. Dholakia’s son, Jay Dholakia, has quit the BJD and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), becoming its candidate for the bypoll. This shift has divided the Komna electorate. Some of Rajendra Dholakia’s loyal supporters have also switched to the BJP following Jay’s move.