Bhubaneswar: October 15:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Jay Dholakia, son of the late BJD leader and MLA Rajendra Dholakia, as its candidate for the Nuapada byelection on November 11. Jay joined the BJP at its Bhubaneswar headquarters following his father’s passing, which left the seat vacant. This move is considered a setback for the BJD ahead of the by-election in western Odisha.
In the 2024 Assembly polls, Rajendra Dholakia won by nearly 11,000 votes, with the BJP finishing third.
Prior to the official announcement, senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar confirmed that the candidate would file nomination papers on October 16. Jay Dholakia will file his nomination on that date, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, ministers, and senior party leaders expected to attend.
The Nuapada byelection is the first electoral contest since the BJP assumed power in Odisha last year. The outcome is significant for the party, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and former Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik.
The Congress has named Ghasiram Majhi as its by-election candidate, while Naveen Patnaik’s BJD has yet to decide its nominee.
Sources indicate that the BJD is likely to announce its candidate today, as the party president has called a meeting of senior leaders at Naveen Niwas.
