Nuapada bypoll campaign enters final phase; CM Majhi to hold roadshow, BJP and BJD exchange barbs

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is set to intensify the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) final leg of public outreach campaigns in Nuapada on Saturday through temple visits, public meetings, and a large roadshow in support of party candidate Jay Dholakia.

The development comes as just two days lie ahead for campaigning to end in the high-stakes Nuapada Assembly bypoll. With only a few hours left, all major political parties, including the BJP, BJD, and Congress, have deployed their senior leaders and star campaigners to consolidate voter support across the constituency.

CM Majhi To Lead Final Push For BJP

According to sources, CM Majhi will begin his day with prayers at the Sunadei Temple in Sunabeda before embarking on a roadshow from Nuapada to Khariar Road. During the campaign, he is expected to interact directly with voters, address gatherings, and appeal for support for Jay Dholakia.

The Chief Minister’s visit marks the second time he will be holding a roadshow in the constituency, following his earlier one held last Thursday in the presence of Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai.

BJP-BJD War Of Words Intensifies

Amid the high-octane campaign, political exchanges have turned increasingly personal. BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal on Tuesday accused BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik of ‘betrayal politics,’ citing his alleged neglect of late BJD leader Rajendra Dholakia, father of BJP candidate Jay Dholakia.

The controversy stems from remarks made earlier by senior BJD leader Pratap Jena, who had questioned Jay Dholakia’s political switch, referring to him as an ‘adopted son’ who had ‘sold himself for money.’

The BJP has condemned the comment as an attack on personal dignity, while Jay Dholakia himself hit back at the BJD leadership, accusing Naveen Patnaik of visiting Nuapada ‘only for votes’ and ignoring his family during their time of bereavement.

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The BJD supremo had landed for a campaign rally in Nuapada earlier last week, where he had launched a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing it of ‘halting Odisha’s progress’ and ‘betraying people’.

Meanwhile, the by-election, which has drawn attention from across the state’s political spectrum, will be held on November 11, while vote counting is scheduled for November 14, according to the Election Commission of India’s notification. The entire process will conclude by November 16.