Congress, BJP candidates file nominations for Nuapada bypoll in Odisha

Candidates of the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress on Saturday filed their nomination papers for the byelection to the Nuapada Assembly constituency in Odisha.

BJP candidate Jay Dholakia and Congress nominee Ghasiram Majhi submitted two sets of papers each, an official said.

Accompanied by State BJP president Manmohan Samal, Ministers Rabinarayan Naik and Ganesh R. Singhkhuntia, and a number of party MLAs, Mr. Dholakia reached the district collector’s office to submit his papers, leading a procession.

The procession, which saw the participation of hundreds of people, started from Khariar Road and touched various parts of the town before culminating near the collector’s office.

Mr. Majhi, a prominent tribal leader, also reached the collector’s office, leading a massive procession. He filed the nomination papers in the presence of state Congress president Bhakta Charan Das, former Minister Suresh Routray, and several senior party leaders.

Mr. Majhi, who contested as an Independent candidate for the seat in last year’s Assembly polls after being denied a Congress ticket, came second by securing about 51,000 votes.

The then State Congress president Sarat Pattanayak was the party candidate for the seat and finished fourth in the race.

The BJD bagged the seat, while the BJP came third. The bypoll was necessitated by the death of BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, whose son Jay is this time the BJP candidate.

So far, five people have submitted nomination papers for the bypoll, scheduled to be held on November 14, officials said.

BJD candidate Snehangiri Chhuria will file her nomination papers on the last date on Monday.

The scrutiny of papers will be conducted on October 22, and the last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 24. The votes will be counted on November 14.