Issues take backseat as war of words intensifies in Nuapada bypoll campaign

As the battle for Nuapada by-election heats up, the campaign trail has turned into a political battleground of accusations and counter-allegations — with core public issues fading from focus.

Also Read: ‘Traitor’ politics heats up in Nuapada ahead of bypoll; BJP questions BJD chief Naveen Patnaik’s silence

The contest largely revolves around the legacy vote of late MLA Rajendra Dholakia aka Raju Bhai, as parties vie for sympathy support. After BJD supremo and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik targeted BJP candidate Jay Dholakia, political rhetoric has intensified.

On Wednesday, the BJD’s women brigade — including MLA Barsha Singh Bariha, former MLA Tukuni Sahu, Alka Mohanty, and Dipali Das — addressed a joint press meet, targeting Jay and his mother Kalpana Dholakia.

They asserted that Naveen Patnaik had never neglected anyone and questioned whether Kalpana was given opportunities by the former Chief Minister. Quoting Chanakya’s verse, they even took a dig at Jay, saying, “One worthy son is better than many unworthy ones.”

Reacting sharply, senior BJP leader Basanta Kumar Panda stated personal remarks were inappropriate, questioning who in BJD has the right to evaluate Jay Dholakia.

However, amid the political blame game, Nuapada’s real issues — migration (Dadan), cotton and paddy farmers’ distress, low maize prices, drinking water scarcity, and the lack of a government degree college — remain neglected.

Political observers warn that focusing on verbal duels instead of development and livelihood concerns could backfire.

Since Jay Dholakia joined the BJP as a candidate, personal-level politics has intensified, even dragging the late MLA Rajendra Dholakia’s name into controversy. How far this blame politics will go remains to be seen.

“Those that are basic issues of the people and issues that people have been facing every day are no more the election issues. Political parties are trying to come out victorious in the Nuapada bypoll by making accusations and counter-allegations their infallible weapons,” eminent political analyst, Akshaya Sahu, said.