BJP’s Jay Dholakia registered a decisive victory in the Nuapada Assembly by-election, defeating Congress candidate Ghasi Ram Majhi by a commanding margin. After 29 rounds of counting, Dholakia led with 1,23,869 votes, while Majhi trailed with 40,121 votes, reflecting strong voter support for the BJP in the constituency.
The by-election, necessitated following the passing of sitting BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8, witnessed an exceptionally high voter turnout of 83.45 per cent, surpassing the previous record of 75.44 per cent in the 2024 state assembly elections. Chief Electoral Officer RS Gopalan described the polling as “mostly peaceful” across the constituency, including the Maoist-affected Sunabeda region, underscoring the smooth conduct of the election under tight security.
The bypoll held significant political importance for the BJP, marking its first electoral contest in the state since forming the government last year. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who visited Nuapada multiple times during the campaign, emphasized the importance of the constituency, treating the by-election as a prestige matter for the ruling party.
The by-election was also seen as a test of BJD chief Naveen Patnaik’s continued influence in Odisha politics, making BJP’s commanding win a notable political statement in the state. The high voter turnout reflected the electorate’s enthusiasm and active participation, reinforcing the democratic spirit of the region.
