The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) exuded confidence on Wednesday that its candidate, Snehangini Chhuria, will win the recently concluded Nuapada Assembly by-election even as the regional party’s claims of “violations” of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) aimed at manipulating the electoral process and misuse of government machinery by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In a press conference held in Bhubaneswar today, senior BJD leader and Chief Whip in the Odisha Assembly, Pramila Mallik, labelled the alleged irregularities as an “assault on democracy.”
Mallik stated that multiple instances of MCC violations Mallik stated that multiple instances of MCC violations were reported to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha and documented by the media.
She said that the BJD had submitted concrete evidence to the election authorities regarding the alleged distribution of sarees and money to voters by the BJP during the campaign.
Mallik pointed to an alleged ‘unlawful’ police raid without a search warrant at the residence of former Minister Priti Ranjan Gharai, and an IT raid at the house of local BJD leader Manoj Mishra.
She also alleged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s helicopter was deliberately delayed for three hours during his campaigning.
Mallik claimed that while opposition leaders left the constituency during the designated “silence period,” BJP leaders allegedly remained in the area to distribute cash.
ନୂଆପଡ଼ା ଉପନିର୍ବାଚନରେ ସରକାରୀ କଳର ଅପବ୍ୟବହାର ହୋଇଛି, ଏହା ସତ୍ତ୍ୱେ ବିଜେଡି ବିଜୟ ହେବ।
ରାଜ୍ୟ ନିର୍ବାଚନ ଇତିହାସରେ, ଏହି ଉପନିର୍ବାଚନ ଏକ କଳଙ୍କମୟ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିଛି।
ସରକାରୀ କର୍ମଚାରୀମାନେ ବିଜେପିର ଏଜେଣ୍ଟ ସାଜିଥିଲେ।#NuapadaByElection #ହଟାଅବିଜେପି #ରଙ୍ଗବଦଳାସରକାର #JababMaguchiOdisha pic.twitter.com/Qfc3JAkS1H
— Biju Janata Dal (@bjd_odisha) November 12, 2025
“Even on polling day, BJP members were allegedly campaigning inside polling booths. Although the BJD submitted evidence of these violations to the election authorities, no action was taken,” claimed the senior BJD leader.
However, Mallik concluded that despite these alleged “illegal attempts” by the BJP, the people of Nuapada have given the BJD “unwavering support,” ensuring a victory for Snehangini Chhuria when the results are declared on Friday.
On the other hand, both the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress have also expressed confidence in the victory of their respective candidates, Jay Dholakia and Ghasiram Majhi, respectively.
Notably, the counting of votes for the Nuapada Assembly Constituency will be held on November 14, under tight security.
