BJP Registers Landslide Victory in Nuapada Bypoll
In a significant political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a resounding victory in the Nuapada assembly bypoll in Odisha. The ruling party's candidate, Jay Dholakia, triumphed by a staggering margin of 83,748 votes, a result widely interpreted as a strong endorsement of the 17-month-old state government led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Decoding the Vote Count and Political Fallout
Jay Dholakia amassed an impressive 1,23,869 votes, decisively defeating his nearest rival, the Congress's Ghasiram Majhi, who secured 40,121 votes. In a major setback for the former ruling party, the Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) candidate, Snehangini Chhuria, finished a distant third with only 38,408 votes. This outcome not only increases the BJP's tally in the state assembly but also marks the Congress edging out the BJD for the second spot.
Remarkably, Jay Dholakia surpassed the victory margin of his father and former BJD MLA, Rajendra Dholakia, whose death had necessitated this by-election. The bypoll, held on November 14, 2025, was one of the most closely watched contests in Odisha's changed political landscape, seen as a direct verdict on the BJP government's performance.
A Boost for Majhi and a Blow for Patnaik
The outcome has significantly boosted CM Mohan Majhi's standing in state politics. He led the party's campaign from the front, involved in everything from strategy revision to addressing massive rallies. A senior BJP leader stated that the victory strengthens Majhi's influence, especially since his selection to lead the government was initially questioned by various quarters.
Conversely, the result is a severe jolt for the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD. This was the party's first electoral test since losing power in June 2024 after ruling Odisha for 24 years. The BJD faced multiple challenges, including being blindsided by Jay Dholakia's switch to the BJP after initially planning to field him. They struggled to find a local candidate and eventually fielded Snehangini Chhuria, who was dubbed an 'outsider'. Despite 79-year-old Naveen Patnaik actively campaigning and accusing the BJP of 'vote chori' and 'candidate chori', the party faced a humiliating defeat. A BJD leader expressed concern that the loss, despite Patnaik's direct involvement, would be portrayed as a sign of his waning influence.
Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal called the win a clear signal that people are happy with the "corruption-free, welfare and service-oriented Majhi government" and that it reflects faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development agenda. For the Congress, the election was the first under new state chief Bhakta Charan Das. While their candidate improved the party's position to second, his vote share was lower than his 2024 tally when he contested as an Independent.
