Nuapada Bypolls: Political Chessboard Heats Up After Rajendra Dholakia’s Untimely Demise

The sudden demise of Rajendra Dholakia, the sitting Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA from Nuapada, on 8 September due to complications following a heart transplant, has triggered a high-stakes bypoll in the constituency. Known not just as a politician but as a philanthropist, Dholakia had earned immense goodwill among the locals, making his seat a key political battleground.

Initially, the BJD was set to field his son, Jay Dholakia, banking on the family legacy to retain the seat. However, political calculations were upended when Jay Dholakia switched allegiance to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which assumed power in Odisha in 2024. The BJD, left scrambling, finally nominated former minister and Attabira MLA Snehangini Chhuria as its candidate for the bypoll.

Meanwhile, the Congress party, striving to revive its fortunes in the state, has fielded tribal leader Ghasiram Majhi – Dholakia’s principal rival in the 2024 assembly elections. That contest saw Majhi finishing second with 50,941 votes, behind Rajendra Dholakia’s 61,822 votes, while Congress heavyweight Sarat Pattanayak, who contested after denying Majhi a ticket, finished fourth. BJP’s Abhinandan Panda, son of former state BJP president Basanta Panda, was third with 44,814 votes.

On paper, Majhi appears to have a strong advantage. Jay Dholakia, despite his legacy, faces limitations in leveraging his father’s name due to his party switch, while Chhuria remains largely unfamiliar to the Nuapada electorate. Yet, electoral outcomes are rarely determined by candidate credentials alone. Ground-level organisation, party resources, and pre-election manoeuvres often tip the scales.

Speculations abound in Nuapada. Some analysts suggest that the BJD may have deliberately allowed Jay Dholakia to defect, indicating tacit coordination between the two parties. Others speculate that BJP influence and pressure played a role, given the Dholakia family’s extensive business interests.

The stakes are high for both major parties. A BJD loss would signal declining influence, despite Naveen Patnaik’s enduring popularity. For the BJP, a defeat would mark a significant setback, as ruling parties typically do not lose bypolls, especially when seeking to consolidate power. Meanwhile, Congress could gain a morale-boosting victory, reviving its organization and positioning itself as a credible alternative in Odisha politics.

As Nuapada braces for a tense electoral battle, the bypoll promises to be more than a local contest – it could reshape political narratives across Odisha.