The Nuapada assembly by-election, scheduled for November 11, is intensifying as political heavyweights prepare for the final campaign push. The by-poll, necessitated by the demise of sitting BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, has become a significant battleground for Odisha’s three major parties.
BJD President and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik shared a pre-campaign message on Thursday, stating that “Nuapada will win.” Patnaik, who is set to campaign in the constituency, shared a video clip of the BJD’s woman candidate, Snehangini Chhuria, on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.
In an accompanying message, the former chief minister said, “Nuapada will win. A new stream of service and development will begin. #JuharNuapada #VoteForBJD #BJD4Nuapada.”
ବିଜୟ ହେବ ନୂଆପଡ଼ାର 🙏
ଆରମ୍ଭ ହେବ ନୂଆ ଧାରା ସେବା ଓ ବିକାଶର। #JuharNuapada #VoteForBJD #BJD4Nuapada pic.twitter.com/0UHYVFtYqj
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 30, 2025
While many in the Odisha political circle find it difficult to decode Patnaik’s message, BJD MP Muzibulla Khan (Munna Khan) interpreted the message, saying it signified that a victory for the BJD candidate would be a win for Nuapada, promising to carry forward the development stream started during the Biju Patnaik era.
The BJD candidate, Snehangini Chhuria, who is the party’s women wing president and hails from the neighbouring Bargarh district, has a chance to make history.
BJD Vice-President Debi Prasad Mishra noted that all 18 prior elections, including one by-poll in 1997, in the Nuapada assembly segment since 1951 have been won by male candidates. If Chhuria wins, it will mark the first time a woman is elected from the seat.
The by-election, necessitated due to the demise of BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, has been witnessing interesting developments since the beginning.
Rajendra Dholakia’s son, Jay Dholakia, who was initially expected to be the BJD candidate, suddenly joined the BJP and was nominated as their candidate and Patnaik fielded his party’s women wing president Senhangini Chhuria, who hails from neighbouring Bargarh district.
The Congress party has fielded veteran politician Ghasiram Majhi, who has unsuccessfully contested from Nuapada five times previously.
The by-poll in Nuapada is also crucial for all three major parties as it is the first electoral test for Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi following the formation of the BJP’s maiden government in Odisha in 2024. Chief Minister Majhi has already visited Nuapada at least twice in October.
On the other hand, the Nuapada by-election is a prestige issue for Naveen Patnaik, whose BJD was recently ousted from power after 24 years while Nuapada is part of the Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituency, the home area of Odisha Congress President and former union minister Bhakta Charan Das.
Though Chief Minister Majhi has visited Nuapada at least twice in October, Patnaik is yet to tour the by-poll-bound assembly segment.
Claiming that Patnaik is a craze among the people of Nuapada, Khan said the BJD president is scheduled to address a public meeting there on November 3. This apart, the BJD leaders have also proposed a road show of Patnaik on November 7, though this programme has not yet been finalised.
Party sources said that Patnaik will make two visits to Nuapada during the campaign.
Ahead of Patnbaik’s visit to Nuapada, the BJD workers are circulating AI-generated videos on social media platforms to create hype among the people.
