{"id":144473,"date":"2025-10-22T15:31:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T10:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/indusvalleytimes.com\/news\/?p=144473"},"modified":"2025-10-22T15:31:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T10:01:12","slug":"nuapada-bypoll-the-battle-that-could-redefine-odishas-political-order","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indusvalleytimes.com\/news\/nuapada-bypoll-the-battle-that-could-redefine-odishas-political-order\/","title":{"rendered":"Nuapada Bypoll: The battle that could redefine Odisha\u2019s political order"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Mahendra Darjee<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 22:<\/strong> The Nuapada Assembly bypoll has become a defining test for Odisha\u2019s three political powerhouses \u2014 the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress. What began as a routine contest has turned into a referendum on leadership, loyalty, and legacy in western Odisha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once a stronghold of the BJD, Nuapada now reflects growing unrest within the party. The choice of Snehangini Chhuria, an outsider from Bargarh district, has angered local cadres. Over 50 sarpanchs, panchayat members, and several grassroots workers have defected to the BJP, joined by senior leader Lambodar Nial, a former BJD Lok Sabha candidate from Kalahandi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For two decades, the BJD thrived on Naveen Patnaik\u2019s charisma and organisational discipline. But after 2024, that aura appears to be fading. The same tactics of defection and disruption that once strengthened the BJD are now being used against it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The BJP has capitalised on this churn with a well-calibrated campaign. Its biggest breakthrough came when Jay Dholakia \u2014 son of the late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia \u2014 joined the saffron camp. The move dealt an emotional and symbolic blow to the BJD. Backed by local heavyweights and an aggressive ground strategy, the BJP is determined to seize the seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, the BJD sought to localise its campaign under senior leader Prasanna Acharya by forming district-level committees and excluding coastal figures. But growing unease forced it to deploy seasoned strategists. For Chhuria, the task remains uphill \u2014 her 2024 defeat by nearly 29,000 votes and her residence 160 km away from Nuapada have become key issues. The refrain, \u201cIs there no leader from Nuapada?\u201d echoes across the constituency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Congress, though weakened, seems more focused this time under PCC chief Bhakta Charan Das. With Ghasiram Majhi \u2014 who secured over 50,000 votes as a rebel in 2024 \u2014 back in the fold, the party hopes to consolidate anti-incumbency votes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For both Naveen Patnaik and Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, the stakes are high. A BJD loss could further dent Naveen\u2019s shrinking aura after recent setbacks, while a BJP victory would strengthen Majhi\u2019s standing as Odisha\u2019s emerging power centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As political observer Srirama Dash notes, \u201cNuapada is no ordinary bypoll. It will decide whether it becomes Naveen\u2019s Waterloo or Majhi\u2019s moment of triumph.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Mahendra Darjee Bhubaneswar, Oct. 22: The Nuapada Assembly bypoll has become a defining test for Odisha\u2019s three political powerhouses \u2014 the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":144474,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,46],"tags":[27755],"class_list":["post-144473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-top-stories","tag-nuapada-bypoll"],"yoast_head":"\nNuapada Bypoll: The battle that could redefine Odisha\u2019s political order<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nuapada Bypoll: The battle that could redefine Odisha\u2019s political orderNuapada Bypoll: The battle that 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