BJP announces 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 death of his father and senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Rajendra Dholakia.

The BJP’s central election committee on Wednesday announced Jay Dholakia’s candidature. In a surprise move, he had joined the saffron party only last week.

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

Rajendra Dholakia, who served as a minister in the Naveen Patnaik government, had represented Nuapada four times—thrice on a BJD ticket and once as an independent. Known for his strong base in the western Odisha district, his passing has created a political vacuum the bypoll will seek to fill.

Nuapada bypoll’s significance

The contest in Nuapada holds significance for all three major parties. For the BJP, it will be the first electoral test for Chief Minister Majhi after the party’s surprise victory in the 2024 Assembly elections.

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

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

Following Jay Dholakia’s switch from the BJD to the BJP, the regional party has been scrambling to find a suitable candidate. The BJD is yet to announce its nominee.

Bordering Chhattisgarh, Nuapada is a predominantly rural constituency. The twin towns of Nuapada and Khariar Road, located about 10 km apart, have seen growing urbanisation in recent years. On the day the bypoll was announced, the Chief Minister declared Khariar Road a municipality. Much of the constituency’s hinterland, however, remains home to thousands of seasonal migrant labourers who travel to other states to work in brick kilns.