By registering a huge victory in the Nuapada bypoll in Odisha, the ruling BJP not only managed to increase its tally by one seat in the state assembly, but the mandate was also seen as an endorsement of the popularity of its 17-month-old government led by Prime Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
The BJP candidate in the Nuapada seat, Jay Dholakia, defeated Congress candidate Ghasiram Majhi by 83,748 votes, with Snehanjini Chauria of the main opposition party BJP standing third. While Jay got 1,23,869 votes, Ghaziram and Shaurya got 40,121 and 38,408 votes respectively.
Jay surpassed the victory margin of his father and former BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia from the seat in the 2024 Assembly elections, whose death necessitated the bypoll.
In the changing political scenario of Odisha, the Nuapada poll has been one of the most closely watched contests of political significance.
As the by-poll was seen as a verdict on the performance of the BJP government, its results strengthened CM Majhi’s standing in state politics as he led the party’s campaign from the front – from reviewing strategy to handling massive rallies and drawing crowds to his roadshows.
“The significance of the judgment against Nuapada goes beyond the bypoll itself. It will strengthen Mohan Majhi’s influence in Odisha politics, as the BJP’s move to select him to lead its government after coming to power has raised questions from various quarters,” a senior party leader said.
Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal said the party’s landslide victory in Nuapada was a “clear signal that people are happy with the corruption-free, welfare-oriented and service-oriented Majhi government”.
“This victory also reflects people’s confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and his development agenda. The result will inspire us to rededicate ourselves to serving the people,” Samal said.
The Nuapada result also shook the Naveen Patnaik-led BJP, as this was the party’s first election battle since June last year, when it lost power after ruling the state for 24 years under Chief Minister Patnaik.
For the BJP, the poll provided a platform not only to defend its stronghold, but was also seen as a test of Patnaik’s existing influence. While the party had initially planned to field Jay as its candidate in Nuapada, it was surprised by his switch to the BJP in the run-up to the bypoll, giving him its ticket.
Desperate to find a candidate from Nuapada district, the BJP has fielded its leader and former minister from western Odisha, Snehanjini Chauria, who has been dubbed an “outsider” in the constituency.
Despite his health problems, Patnaik, 79, actively sought out Shaurya, holding meetings and roadshows all over Nuapada.
During his election campaign, Patnaik accused the BJP of “voting Chauri” and “candidate Chauri” and alleged that it was a “betrayal” of him and his party.
The BJD has deployed more than 60 party leaders in different sectors of the constituency to campaign for Chauria.
“The BJP leaders should have carefully gauged the party’s win prospects and the mood of the people before taking Naveen Babu on the bypoll campaign. The party’s humiliating defeat despite Patnaik campaigning twice in Nuapada will be portrayed by the BJP as a decline in its influence, which is not a good sign for us,” a party leader said.
He said the BJP succeeded in its plan to keep the BJP’s vote share below 25% to send a signal that Patnaik’s influence was “dwindling” while the former was “gaining” people’s trust.
Regarding the BJP’s loss, party leader Debi Prasad Mishra accused the BJP of “misusing” government machinery to win the seat.
For the Congress party, this was the first election under the leadership of the party’s new state president Bhakta Charan Das, who is from neighboring Kalahandi district. When the Congress nominated popular tribal leader Ghasiram Majhi, who stood second in the seat in the 2024 Assembly elections while contesting as an independent, Bhakta Charan also campaigned strongly for him. Ghairim finished second again, but received 10,800 votes short of his tally in 2024.
(tags for translation)nuapada bypoll
