Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has registered a sweeping victory in the Nuapada Assembly by-election, with party candidate Jay Dholakia securing a record margin of 83,748 votes, marking one of the most decisive bypoll wins in Odisha in recent years. The outcome not only strengthens the BJP’s grip in western Odisha but also significantly reshapes the political landscape of the state, which had been dominated by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for over two decades.
Jay Dholakia, the son of late MLA Rajendra Dholakia, joined the BJP following his father’s demise and was fielded by the party to retain the family’s political legacy in Nuapada.
Massive Vote Share Swing in Favour of BJP
As per the final figures released by the Election Commission, Jay Dholakia polled 1,23,869 votes, securing 58.27 per cent of the total vote share. Congress candidate Ghasi Ram Majhi finished a distant second with 40,121 votes (18.88 per cent), while BJD’s candidate and former MLA Snehangini Chhuria stood third with 38,408 votes (18.06%). The remaining votes, including NOTA, accounted for 4.79 per cent.
The result is a major setback for the BJD, which had won the seat in the 2024 Assembly elections through veteran leader Rajendra Dholakia, whose demise on September 8 necessitated the bypoll. Despite deploying its full organisational machinery, the BJD’s slide to the third position underlines a decline in its electoral strength in western Odisha.
The by-election, held on November 11, recorded an impressive 83.45 per cent voter turnout. Out of 2,54,497 registered voters, 2,12,380 people cast their ballots across 358 polling booths, including 1,03,817 men, 1,08,563 women, and five transgender voters. A total of 14 candidates, including nine Independents, were in the fray.
Campaign Dynamics: BJP Leverages Local Sentiments, BJD’s Strategy Falters
The BJP’s campaign gained significant momentum after the party positioned Jay Dholakia as the “suputra of Rajubhai,” leveraging the goodwill and legacy of his late father, former MLA Rajendra Dholakia. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi focused on projecting the idea of a “Triple Engine Government” BJP at the Centre, in Odisha, and in the constituency promising speedy implementation of development initiatives.
The party also capitalised on local sentiments, turning the narrative around Snehangini Chhuria’s perceived “outsider” image into a strategic advantage. A slogan that resonated strongly in the region “Hamare area mein jiska nahi Aadhaar card, uski yahan parchi fad” (“Tear up the voter slip of anyone who doesn’t belong to Nuapada”) sought to mobilise voters on the basis of regional identity, underscoring the importance of local representation.
In contrast, the BJD attempted to frame the election around allegations of “betrayal” by the BJP and held large rallies addressed by former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. However, the messaging failed to counter the BJP’s aggressive grassroots outreach and targeted booth-level strategy.
PM Modi Hails the Victory as People’s Endorsement
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the people of Nuapada for delivering a landslide mandate to the BJP. In a post on social media, he wrote:
“I thank the people of Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Nuapada in Odisha for blessing the BJP with spectacular victories in the by-polls. Congratulations to the newly elected MLAs Devyani Rana Ji and Jay Dholakia Ji. Wishing them the very best in serving the people. Compliments to the BJP Karyakartas who worked round the clock to ensure these wins.”
I thank the people of Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Nuapada in Odisha for blessing the BJP with spectacular victories in the by-polls. Congratulations to the newly elected MLAs Devyani Rana Ji and Jay Dholakia Ji. Wishing them the very best in serving the people.…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 14, 2025
PM Modi’s acknowledgement is being viewed as a major morale booster for the BJP cadre in Odisha, particularly at a time when the party is expanding its footprint in the state.
Odisha CM Mohan Majhi: ‘A New Chapter in the State’s Political Landscape’
Reacting to the results, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the BJP’s victory has “created a new chapter in the political landscape of Odisha.” In a detailed statement on social media, Majhi said the win reflects the public’s unwavering trust in the BJP’s policies, governance model, and welfare programmes.
Majhi added that the people of Nuapada “completely rejected the opposition’s misinformation and false promises,” and delivered a “clear mandate in favour of development.” He extended heartfelt congratulations to Jay Dholakia and thanked the voters, party workers, and leadership for ensuring the victory.
The Chief Minister also emphasised that under the leadership of PM Modi, the Odisha government has been working tirelessly for the welfare of citizens and the overall growth of the state. He affirmed:
“We are fully committed to the development of Nuapada. With people’s cooperation, we will certainly succeed in building a prosperous Nuapada and a prosperous Odisha.”
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Lauds the Mandate
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, an influential BJP leader from Odisha, also expressed gratitude to the people of Nuapada, calling the outcome a “victory of democracy.”
ନୂଆପଡ଼ା ଉପନିର୍ବାଚନରେ ନୂଆପଡ଼ାବାସୀଙ୍କ ସହ ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ରର ବିଜୟ ହୋଇଛି । ମାନ୍ୟବର ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @narendramodi, ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରୀୟ ଅଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷ ଶ୍ରୀ @JPNadda , ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha , ରାଜ୍ୟ ସଭାପତି ଶ୍ରୀ @SamalManmohan7 ତଥା ଆମ ଦଳ ଉପରେ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରି ଭୋଟ ଦେଇଥିବାରୁ ନୂଆପଡ଼ାର ଜନସାଧାରଣ ଏବଂ କଠିନ…
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) November 14, 2025
In his post, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National President J.P. Nadda, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, and State President Manmohan Samal for their leadership. He praised BJP workers for their relentless grassroots efforts and said:
“Our double-engine government will accelerate the development of Nuapada and fulfil the aspirations of its people.”
Pradhan also congratulated Jay Dholakia, saying the victory demonstrates the trust of citizens in the BJP’s development agenda and governance model.
Political Implications: BJP Strength Rises to 79 Seats
With this bypoll victory, the BJP has further consolidated its numerical strength in the Odisha Assembly, now holding 79 seats, while the BJD’s tally has dropped to 50. The Congress, despite retaining pockets of support, continues to struggle to make a statewide impact.
Jay Dholakia’s emphatic victory is not just a personal triumph but a strategic win for the BJP in Odisha. With endorsements from top national and state leaders and visible enthusiasm among party workers, the result underscores a turning point in Odisha politics. As the BJP government promises accelerated development in Nuapada under the “triple engine” model, all eyes will now be on how swiftly and effectively these commitments translate into action on the ground.
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