BJP proclaims Jay Dholakia as candidate for Nuapada bypoll in Odisha

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Jay Dholakia as its candidate from the Nuapada Assembly seat, which fell vacant following the dying of his father and senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Rajendra Dholakia.

The BJP’s central election committee on Wednesday introduced Jay Dholakia’s candidature. In a shock transfer, he had joined the saffron celebration solely final week.

Chief Minister Mohan Majhi is more likely to fly to Nuapada to accompany the BJP candidate throughout the submitting of his nomination for the bypoll scheduled on November 14. The Congress has already introduced Ghasiram Majhi as its candidate.

Rajendra Dholakia, who served as a minister within the Naveen Patnaik authorities, had represented Nuapada 4 instances—thrice on a BJD ticket and as soon as as an unbiased. Known for his robust base within the western Odisha district, his passing has created a political vacuum the bypoll will search to fill.

Nuapada bypoll’s significance

The contest in Nuapada holds significance for all three main events. For the BJP, it is going to be the primary electoral check for Chief Minister Majhi after the celebration’s shock victory within the 2024 Assembly elections.

For the BJD, it marks Naveen Patnaik’s return to the marketing campaign path as Leader of the Opposition after 24 years in energy.

For the Congress, the seat carries private significance for Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das, as Nuapada falls beneath the Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituency—his long-time political turf.

Following Jay Dholakia’s swap from the BJD to the BJP, the regional celebration has been scrambling to discover a appropriate candidate. The BJD is but to announce its nominee.

Bordering Chhattisgarh, Nuapada is a predominantly rural constituency. The twin cities of Nuapada and Khariar Road, positioned about 10 km aside, have seen rising urbanisation lately. On the day the bypoll was introduced, the Chief Minister declared Khariar Road a municipality. Much of the constituency’s hinterland, nonetheless, stays residence to hundreds of seasonal migrant labourers who journey to different states to work in brick kilns.