Nuapada Byelection Live Updates: Voting begins, 14 candidates in fray

Polling began on Tuesday for the Nuapada Assembly by-election, with more than 2.53 lakh voters eligible to exercise their franchise across 358 polling booths.

The bypoll was necessitated following the demise of four-time MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8, 2025.

To ensure smooth and secure voting, authorities have deployed 14 companies of central forces, along with helicopter surveillance for remote and Maoist-affected areas.

The electoral contest is shaping up as a triangular battle among BJP’s Jay Dholakia, BJD’s Snehangini Chhuria, and Congress’s Ghasiram Majhi.

Polling will continue from 7 AM to 5 PM in most booths, while 47 sensitive booths will close an hour earlier, at 4 PM, as a precautionary measure. All polling stations have been equipped with EVMs, VVPATs, and webcasting facilities for live monitoring.

The counting of votes is scheduled for November 14, 2025.

Nov 11, 2025 08:56 IST
BJP candidate Jay Dholakia casts vote
#NuapadaBypoll: BJP candidate Jay Dholakia casts his vote at a polling booth in the constituency. #WATCH#NuapadaBypoll#Odisha#NuapadaBypollWithOTVpic.twitter.com/cYH1uXzinp
— OTV (@otvnews) November 11, 2025



Nov 11, 2025 08:14 IST
EVM glitch delays voting
A technical glitch in the EVM has been reported at booth number 76 in Mongrapali under Khariar Road. As a result, voting has not yet started, and voters are waiting in queues to cast their votes.



Nov 11, 2025 07:57 IST
Voting begins across 358 polling booths with 14 candidates in fray
Polling began on Tuesday morning for the Nuapada Assembly bypoll, marking the start of a closely watched electoral contest in western Odisha. Over 2.53 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes across 358 polling booths in the constituency, which fell vacant following the death of four-time MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8, 2025.
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Nov 11, 2025 07:25 IST
Voters exercise their franchise
#WATCH | Nuapada Bypoll: Voters exercise their franchise to elect their representative; the bypoll was necessitated following the demise of four-time MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8, 2025#NuapadaBypoll#Odisha#NuapadaBypollWithOTVpic.twitter.com/A13HQNUP13
— OTV (@otvnews) November 11, 2025



Nov 11, 2025 07:24 IST
Voting begins across 358 booths
Voting for the Nuapada bypoll begins with more than 2.53 lakh voters to exercise their franchise across 358 polling booths.  
To ensure smooth and secure voting, authorities have deployed 14 companies of central forces, along with helicopter surveillance for remote and Maoist-affected areas. Polling will continue from 7 AM to 5 PM in most booths, while 47 sensitive booths will close an hour earlier, at 4 PM.