Ahead of the upcoming Nuapada by-election, Jay Dholakia, son of the late four-time Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Rajendra Dholakia, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday. Mr. Dholakia’s passing necessitated the by-election, which is scheduled for November 11.
Mr. Dholakia joined the BJP at the party’s state headquarters in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and state BJP president Manmohan Samal. Sources within the BJP indicate that Mr. Dholakia is anticipated to be the party’s candidate for the by-election.
Political observers suggest this development could influence the political landscape in the western Odisha constituency. The by-election is viewed as a significant test for both the BJP, which finished third in Nuapada during the 2024 assembly polls, and the BJD, now an opposition party, to assess the continued influence of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Prior to Mr. Dholakia’s joining, BJP leaders reportedly met with party veteran Basanta Panda, a former rival of Rajendra Dholakia in the constituency. The BJD has publicly stated that Mr. Dholakia’s defection will not impact voter support for Naveen Patnaik.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/bjd-leaders-death-prompted-an-odisha-bypoll-his-son-now-joins-bjp-setting-up-a-litmus-test-for-both-parties-10301260/