Nuapada: High-stakes battle for BJP, BJD & Cong

The upcoming Nuapada byelection, necessitated by the untimely demise of MLA and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Rajendra Dholakia, has shaped up as a high-stakes political test for the three major parties in Odisha.

- ARINDAM GANGULY, OP

For the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it marks the first electoral test since assuming power last year, gauging public response to its governance. On the other hand, the BJD, now in Opposition, faces a prestige fight to prove its organisational strength after losing office. The Congress, meanwhile, sees the contest as a chance to revive its footprint in the coastal state.

While the BJP has fielded Rajendra’s son Jay as its Nuapada candidate, the BJD has picked Snehangini Chhuria, a former legislator, for the contest. The Congress, on the other hand, has chosen Ghasiram Majhi, a tribal rights activist and longtime political figure in the region, for the high-stakes battle.

The outcome of the November 11 byelection is expected to set the tone for future political battles in Odisha.

For Jay, the bypoll is much more than an electoral debut — it’s a mission to carry forward his father’s legacy. “My father worked tirelessly for the people of Nuapada. I have seen his commitment and service closely, and I will strive to carry forward his unfinished work,” he said.

Jay joined the BJP a few days before the bypoll candidate announcement, citing neglect by BJD.

“After all that my father did for BJD and the district, when he was bedridden and fighting for his life, the party supremo did nothing — just a single phone call after his demise,” Jay said, taking a direct dig at the BJD leadership.

Jay’s campaign has received strong backing from BJP heavyweights, including CM Mohan Charan Majhi, who visited Nuapada multiple times, and Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai.

Chhuria, who had represented Attabira earlier, is now banking on Naveen Patnaik’s enduring popularity. The BJD supremo himself has campaigned multiple times in Nuapada, drawing massive crowds ~ a reflection of his personal connect in the region.

The BJP has, on multiple occasions, dubbed the BJD’s candidate as an ‘outsider’.