Jay Dholakia wins Nuapada bypoll as BJP surges; BJD secures third spot
Bhubaneswar: BJP candidate Jay Dholakia won the Nuapada byelection by over 83,000 votes against Congress nominee Ghasiram Majhi, marking a strong endorsement of CM Mohan Charan Majhi ’s leadership.
The BJP’s strategic choice of Jay — son of late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, whose death necessitated the bypoll — combined with popular schemes like 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, secured deep grassroots support. BJD, which won the seat in the 2024 assembly election, finished a distant third.
Of the 212,000 votes polled, Jay bagged over 1,23,000 (58.27%), Ghasiram Majhi 40,000 (18.87%), and Snehangini Chhuria (BJD) 38,000 (18.07%). By fielding Jay, BJP tapped local sympathy and continuity of influence — a strategy reminiscent of BJD’s 2018 bypoll win when it fielded deceased Congress MLA Subal Sahu’s wife, Rita Sahu, who triumphed by a record margin of 97,000 votes.
After Rajendra Dholakia’s death, Majhi visited Nuapada five times, campaigned overnight, and deployed ministers from Odisha and Chhattisgarh for micromanaging the contest, facing voters for the first time after coming to power around one and a half years ago.
BJD’s misstep was losing Jay to BJP and fielding Snehangini Chhuria, a high-profile leader but perceived as an outsider since she hails from Bargarh district, weakening local connect. Congress lacked aggression but managed second place — a climb from fourth in 2024. Ghasiram Majhi finished second as an independent in 2024 and as Congress nominee in 2019.
Reacting to the verdict, CM Mohan Charan Majhi said Nuapada results ushered in a new chapter in Odisha’s political landscape. “The victory demonstrates the public’s complete trust and confidence in our govt’s policies, ideals, and welfare programmes. 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,” he said.
Jay, a 32-year-old graduate, said, “It’s a reflection of people’s support for the works of double engine govts, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Odisha besides people’s love for my late father.”
State BJP president Manmohan Samal added, “Nuapada victory is a testament to the unwavering trust of the people in Modi’s leadership, development agenda, and good governance. People of Nuapada have sent a clear message today that they desire CM Mohan Charan Majhi’s corruption-free, service-oriented, and welfare-focused politics. This victory is the result of the continuous hard work and faith of all our workers, officials, and the general public.”
While BJD leader Lekhasri Samantsinghar blamed “misuse of govt machinery” and “influencing voters during the silence period” by the BJP as reasons behind its win, Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said irrespective of the outcome the Congress will continue its fight to save democracy. “We accept the verdict though the outcome was not as per the people’s response which was more for us. Despite BJP misusing administrative machinery in all possible manner and BJD trying its best, we managed to secure the second spot with more than 40,000 votes,” he said.
The BJP’s strategic choice of Jay — son of late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, whose death necessitated the bypoll — combined with popular schemes like 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, secured deep grassroots support. BJD, which won the seat in the 2024 assembly election, finished a distant third.
Of the 212,000 votes polled, Jay bagged over 1,23,000 (58.27%), Ghasiram Majhi 40,000 (18.87%), and Snehangini Chhuria (BJD) 38,000 (18.07%). By fielding Jay, BJP tapped local sympathy and continuity of influence — a strategy reminiscent of BJD’s 2018 bypoll win when it fielded deceased Congress MLA Subal Sahu’s wife, Rita Sahu, who triumphed by a record margin of 97,000 votes.
After Rajendra Dholakia’s death, Majhi visited Nuapada five times, campaigned overnight, and deployed ministers from Odisha and Chhattisgarh for micromanaging the contest, facing voters for the first time after coming to power around one and a half years ago.
BJD’s misstep was losing Jay to BJP and fielding Snehangini Chhuria, a high-profile leader but perceived as an outsider since she hails from Bargarh district, weakening local connect. Congress lacked aggression but managed second place — a climb from fourth in 2024. Ghasiram Majhi finished second as an independent in 2024 and as Congress nominee in 2019.
Reacting to the verdict, CM Mohan Charan Majhi said Nuapada results ushered in a new chapter in Odisha’s political landscape. “The victory demonstrates the public’s complete trust and confidence in our govt’s policies, ideals, and welfare programmes. 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,” he said.
Jay, a 32-year-old graduate, said, “It’s a reflection of people’s support for the works of double engine govts, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Odisha besides people’s love for my late father.”
State BJP president Manmohan Samal added, “Nuapada victory is a testament to the unwavering trust of the people in Modi’s leadership, development agenda, and good governance. People of Nuapada have sent a clear message today that they desire CM Mohan Charan Majhi’s corruption-free, service-oriented, and welfare-focused politics. This victory is the result of the continuous hard work and faith of all our workers, officials, and the general public.”
While BJD leader Lekhasri Samantsinghar blamed “misuse of govt machinery” and “influencing voters during the silence period” by the BJP as reasons behind its win, Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said irrespective of the outcome the Congress will continue its fight to save democracy. “We accept the verdict though the outcome was not as per the people’s response which was more for us. Despite BJP misusing administrative machinery in all possible manner and BJD trying its best, we managed to secure the second spot with more than 40,000 votes,” he said.
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