Nuapada bypoll: 14 candidates to contest as no nominations withdrawn

The Nuapada Assembly by-election is set for an intense multi-cornered contest, with 14 candidates officially remaining in the fray after the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers ended on Friday.

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According to the Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha, MLA candidates were allowed to withdraw their nominations between 11.00 AM and 3.00 PM today, but no withdrawals were reported.

Among the key contenders are Jay Dholakia from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Snehangini Chhuria from Biju Janata Dal (BJD), and Ghasiram Majhi representing the Indian National Congress (INC). Other party candidates include Ramakanta Hati of Samajwadi Party, Hemant Tandi from Bahujan Mukti Party, and Shukadhar Dandsena of the Odisha Janata Dal.

In addition, eight independent candidates, namely Ashraya Mahandan, Er. Chakranta Jena, Bhuvan Lal Sahu, Kishore Kumar Bag, Nita Bag, Lakshmikant Tandi, Bhaktabandhu Dharua, and Lochan Majhi will also contest.

During the scrutiny process, five nomination papers were rejected, including those filed by Rajaram Sahu (BSP), Sitaram Behera (Rastriya Paribartan Dal), and three independents — Kamal Kumar Chhatria, Purushottam Behera, and Bhujabal Adabangu.

The entire by-election process is scheduled to be completed by November 16, 2025.

Worth mentioning, CEO-Odisha had previously announced that there are 2.48 lakh voters in the Nuapada constituency. A total of 358 polling stations will be set up, including 56 new polling stations.

The CEO had informed that webcasting will be conducted in all booths across the Nuapada Assembly constituency segment during the by-election.

By-election to the constituency was necessitated following the demise of Rajendra Dholakia. He was four times MLA from the Nuapada seat. He was first elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly in 2004 as an independent candidate; subsequently, he joined the Biju Janata Dal.