Odisha’s Nuapada bypoll to coincide with Bihar Assembly polls: ECI

Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Sunday that the bypoll to Odisha’s Nuapada Assembly constituency segment will be held along with upcoming Bihar elections. The elections will be held alongside polls in eight states, including Nuapada constituency.

Also Read: Politics heats up in Odisha's Nuapada ahead of bypoll

In a press statement, the ECI announced the deployment of 470 officers serving in various States, as central observers (general, police and expenditure) for the Bihar assembly polls and the by-elections in seven states, including Odisha’s Nuapada segment.

The observers will work under the superintendence, control and discipline of ECI from their appointment date to the completion of election process, the press release said.

They would act as eyes and ears of the election commission and keep reporting to the panel periodically and on a need basis, the ECI communiqué expressed.

The by-election to Nuapada Assembly constituency seat was necessitated due to the demise of sitting MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8 due to health-related issues.

Dholakia was a four-time MLA from the Nuapada seat. He was a minister in the previous Naveen Patnaik-led government from 2022 to 2024.

With his demise, the number of BJD MLAs in the 147-member assembly has come down to 50, while the BJP has 78, Congress 14, CPI (M) 1, and three independent legislators.

Worth mentioning, the by-elections will be conducted in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Telangana, Punjab, Mizoram, and Odisha. ECI has decided to deploy a massive contingent of the Central Observers across these regions to ensure a smooth, fair, and transparent electoral process.

The observer force will include 320 IAS officers, 60 IPS officers, and senior officials from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). These officers will supervise polling activities, monitor law and order, and ensure strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in their designated regions.

This strategic move is seen as a robust administrative step to enhance transparency and accountability in the election process across all eight states.