Odisha Bypolls: Tribal Voters Hold Key as Nuapada Bypoll Heats Up Ahead of November 11
Odisha by-poll sees rapid bloc shifts among BJD, BJP, Congress.
The Nuapada by-election, set for November 11, 2025, has become a battleground of shifting alliances after the death of BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia. Fourteen candidates, including eight Independents, are contesting, but focus remains on BJD, BJP, and Congress. Tribal voters, forming 40 percent of the electorate, hold the key as parties scramble to secure or reclaim their support amid intense campaigning and strategic defections.
Congress candidate Ghasiram Majhi relies on his long-standing grassroots presence, having started as Nuapada block chairman in 1997 and aiding Dholakia’s 2004 Independent win. Contesting for the third time under Congress after five attempts since 2000, Majhi targets tribal and rural voters with steady door-to-door outreach. However, the party’s weakened tribal base, eroded by recent exits, poses a significant challenge despite his personal popularity.
BJD’s Snehangini Chhuria, a former minister, has reversed initial doubts through aggressive panchayat-level campaigns and strong women’s support. Her momentum surged with the return of Zilla Parishad President Bhanu Pratap Singh Majhi and Komna block leader Ksyama Nial, pulling tribal and Goud communities back to BJD. These high-profile re-entries have boosted morale and consolidated key voting blocs.
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BJP’s Jay Dholakia, son of the late MLA, struggles to match his father’s mass appeal despite inheriting loyal workers. The expected sympathy wave remains elusive, worsened by the party’s decision to overlook Basanta Panda’s son. Both BJD and BJP using Dholakia’s image for emotional leverage risks confusing voters in this low-literacy constituency.
With 358 webcast polling stations ensuring transparency, the November 14 result will reveal the strength of regional loyalties and impact Odisha’s broader political equations. A close verdict is anticipated, with Independents potentially splitting votes and influencing the final outcome.
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