BJP's Jay Dholakia Secures Landmark Victory in Odisha's Nuapada Bypoll with Over 80,000 Vote Margin

The Election Commission has yet to update the official results on its website

Nuapada:

BJP candidate Jay Dholakia emerged victorious in the Nuapada assembly bypoll in Odisha with a substantial margin of 83,748 votes on Friday, according to election officials.

Congress secured the second position, while the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), previously the main opposition in the state, was pushed to third place.

Dholakia garnered 1,23,869 votes, significantly outperforming his nearest competitor, Congress candidate Ghasiram Majhi, who received 40,121 votes. BJD's Snehangini Chhuria managed to secure 38,408 votes.

Though the results have been announced locally, the Election Commission has not yet published them on its official website.

Jay is the son of late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, whose passing necessitated this bypoll.

This electoral outcome, the first contest held in Odisha since last year's assembly election, represents a significant boost for the BJP.

The bypoll was considered a prestige battle for Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who made at least six visits to Nuapada during the pre-election campaign period.

Congress's second-place finish is also noteworthy as the party aims to replace BJD as the primary opposition force in Odisha.

For the BJD, which lost power in the previous assembly elections, this defeat further damages its political standing.

The Nuapada bypoll recorded 83.45 percent voter participation, marking the highest turnout among the eight by-elections conducted across the country.

Fourteen candidates contested in this bypoll, with voting taking place on November 11.

The Chief Minister stated that this victory has initiated a new chapter in the state's political landscape.

"This victory demonstrates the complete faith and trust of the general public in our government's policies, ideals, and welfare programs. Nuapada residents have thoroughly rejected the opposition parties' smear campaigns and false promises, instead supporting development by giving a clear mandate in favor of the BJP," he shared on X.

"I express my heartfelt gratitude to every citizen of Nuapada while extending warm congratulations and best wishes to Nuapada's newly elected MLA, Shri Jay Dholkia," he added.

Majhi emphasized that PM Narendra Modi's leadership represents the definitive approach to development.

"Under his ideals and guidance, our government has been working tirelessly day and night for the welfare of Odisha's residents and the state's development over the past nearly one-and-a-half years. The support from Nuapada's residents has provided us with new inspiration and strength," he stated.

BJP state president Manmohan Samal thanked Nuapada's citizens for choosing "development".

"Nuapada faces numerous problems that neither the BJD nor Congress could resolve. Therefore, people supported the BJP, which is committed to developing the area," he told reporters.

BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra, who oversaw the bypoll for his party, expressed surprise at the margin and alleged electoral manipulation.

"Such a huge margin proves gross manipulation of the election by the BJP using government machinery. Though we highlighted several irregularities, the EC observers who were supposed to remain neutral became mere mute spectators," he claimed.

Congress candidate Majhi, who finished second in the 2024 assembly elections for this seat, alleged that "money played a major role" in the by-election.

"Although my position remained strong throughout the campaign, the situation changed during the final days due to the money factor. Money is not god, but nothing less than god," he remarked.