In Nuapada, the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress candidates filed their nomination papers on Saturday for the by-election to the Nuapada Assembly seat in Odisha. Jay Dholakia, the BJP candidate, and Ghasiram Majhi, the Congress nominee, each submitted two sets of papers, as confirmed by an official. Dholakia, accompanied by State BJP president Manmohan Samal, along with ministers Rabinarayan Naik and Ganesh R Singhkhuntia, led a procession to the District Collector’s office. This procession attracted hundreds of participants, beginning from Khariar Road and traversing various parts of the town before concluding at the Collector’s office. Ghasiram, a notable tribal leader, also arrived at the Collector’s office, spearheading a large procession.
He filed his nomination papers alongside State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das, former minister Suresh Routray, and several senior party figures. Ghasiram, who ran as an Independent candidate in the previous year’s Assembly elections after being denied a Congress ticket, secured second place with approximately 51,000 votes. The then-State Congress president Sarat Pattanayak was the party’s candidate and finished fourth in that election. The BJD won the seat, while the BJP came in third. This by-poll has been called due to the passing of BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, whose son Jay is now the BJP candidate. So far, five candidates have submitted their nomination papers for the by-election scheduled for November 14.
The BJD candidate, Snehangiri Chhuria, is set to submit her papers on the final day, Monday. Paper scrutiny will take place on October 22, with the last day for withdrawal of nominations on October 24. Votes will be counted on November 14.
