Bhubaneswar: BJP leader Jay Dholakia, who recently achieved a significant victory in the Nuapada by-election, took the oath of office as a member of the Odisha Assembly on Thursday. The oath was administered by Speaker Surama Padhy in the presence of senior party leaders, his mother Kalpana Dholakia, and other family members. Jay was elected from the Nuapada constituency during the by-poll held on November 11, which was necessitated by the passing of his father, Rajendra Dholakia, the former BJD MLA. He won against Congress candidate Ghasiram Majhi by a substantial margin of 83,748 votes, while the BJD nominee Snehangini Chhuria placed third.
With Jay’s election, the BJP’s representation in the 147-member Assembly has risen to 79, while the BJD’s has decreased to 50. The Congress holds 14 seats, with three Independents and one CPI(M) member.