BJP Registers Landslide Victory in Nuapada By-Election
The Bharatiya Janata Party has scored a spectacular victory in the Nuapada assembly by-election, with its candidate Jay Dholakia defeating Congress nominee Ghasiram Majhi by a massive margin of over 83,000 votes. This decisive win marks a strong endorsement of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's leadership just over a year after he assumed power in Odisha.
Strategic Candidate Selection and Welfare Schemes Drive Victory
The BJP's strategic decision to field Jay Dholakia - son of late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, whose death necessitated the bypoll - proved to be a masterstroke. Combined with popular welfare schemes including the Subhadra cash incentive for women, Rs 800 per quintal input subsidy for paddy farmers, and a Rs 1,100-crore development package for Nuapada, the party secured deep grassroots support.
Of the total 212,000 votes cast in the by-election, Jay Dholakia secured an impressive 1,23,000 votes (58.27%), while Congress candidate Ghasiram Majhi managed 40,000 votes (18.87%). The ruling Biju Janata Dal, which had won this seat in the 2024 assembly elections, finished a distant third with candidate Snehangini Chhuria receiving only 38,000 votes (18.07%).
Intensive Campaigning and Local Connect
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi personally invested significant effort in the campaign, visiting Nuapada five times after Rajendra Dholakia's death and even campaigning overnight. The BJP deployed ministers from both Odisha and neighboring Chhattisgarh to micromanage the contest, marking the party's first major electoral test since coming to power approximately eighteen months ago.
The BJP's strategy of fielding Jay Dholakia effectively tapped into local sympathy and ensured continuity of influence - a approach reminiscent of BJD's own successful bypoll strategy in 2018 when they fielded Rita Sahu, wife of deceased Congress MLA Subal Sahu, who won by a record margin of 97,000 votes.
Political Reactions and Analysis
Reacting to the verdict, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that the Nuapada results have ushered in a new chapter in Odisha's political landscape. "The victory demonstrates the public's complete trust and confidence in our government's policies, ideals, and welfare programmes," he said. "The people of Nuapada have completely rejected the opposition's propaganda and false promises, instead supporting development by giving a clear mandate in BJP's favour."
The 32-year-old winning candidate, Jay Dholakia, attributed his victory to public support for the works of double engine governments led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Odisha, as well as people's affection for his late father.
State BJP president Manmohan Samal described the victory as "a testament to the unwavering trust of the people in Modi's leadership, development agenda, and good governance."
While BJD leader Lekhasri Samantsinghar alleged "misuse of government machinery" and "influencing voters during the silence period" by the BJP, Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said his party would continue its fight to save democracy regardless of the outcome.
The bypoll results indicate a significant political realignment in Odisha, with the BJP consolidating its position and the BJD suffering a dramatic decline from its previous winning position in the constituency.
