Jay Dholakia, son of former BJD Minister, joins BJP

In a twist of occasions, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday (October 11, 2025) obtained a significant increase with the becoming a member of of Jay Dholakia, son of late minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Rajendra Dholkia, whose demise necessitated the bypoll in Odisha’s Nuapada Assembly constituency.

The BJP is prone to discipline Jay Dholakia as its candidate within the bypoll, scheduled to happen on November 14. It was broadly speculated that the BJD would have nominated Mr. Jay to capitalise on the sympathy issue following his father’s loss of life.

Mr. Jay arrived on the BJP State workplace right here in a powerful procession. The significance of his induction was evident as Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Okay. V. Singh Deo, and State BJP president Manmohan Samal personally welcomed him into the occasion fold.

“Former Minister Rajendra Dholakia had many opponents primarily based on ideological grounds, however he didn’t have any enemies,” mentioned Mr. Majhi, who hinted at his son’s candidature for the bypolls, from the BJP.

“The forthcoming bypoll marks the primary electoral check for the saffron occasion after its shock victory within the 2024 Assembly elections. The BJP management is cautious of any upset within the bye-election. If it occurs, the present State management can be discredited earlier than nationwide management,” Rabi Das, a senior journalist and political analyst, mentioned.

Sources mentioned the BJD had made concerted efforts to dissuade Mr. Jay from switching sides, given his household’s robust affect in Nuapada district, which shares its border with Chhattisgarh. Over the previous decade, the regional occasion had consolidated its base across the Dholakia household.

“The scenario would have been completely different had former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik nonetheless been in energy. His reputation alone was usually sufficient to make sure victory for a lot of little-known candidates,” Mr. Das added.

“Till late Friday evening, Mr. Jay was in contact with us. However, he didn’t flip up this morning,” a high BJD chief, who didn’t need to be named, mentioned.

Mr. Jay’s determination to hitch the saffron occasion has unsettled the political equations in Nuapada. The transfer reportedly upset Basant Panda, former MP and ex-president of the State BJP, as his son Abhinandan Panda was an aspirant for the seat. Party leaders, nevertheless, are mentioned to have satisfied Mr. Panda of the strategic significance of profitable the bypoll and its wider implications for Odisha politics.

While each the BJP and the BJD are but to announce their candidates for the bypoll, the Congress has declared Ghasiram Majhi as its candidate.