BJP names ex-BJD MLA’s son Jay as its candidate for Nuapada bypoll

Bhubaneswar, Oct 15 (PTI) The ruling BJP in Odisha on Wednesday nominated Jay Dholakia as its candidate for Nuapada assembly bypoll, voting for which will be held along with the second phase of Bihar polls on November 11.

Dholakia, son of former BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, joined the BJP on October 11. He is scheduled to file his nomination papers as a BJP candidate on Thursday, party sources said.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other senior leaders of the saffron party will remain present when Dholakia files his papers.

The party has also planned a massive rally at Nuapada before Dholakia files his papers, they said.

The bypoll was necessitated following the demise of Rajendra Dholakia, a four-time MLA, on September 8.

His son was initially tipped to be the BJD's candidate.

The BJP, whose candidate Abhinandan Panda finished third in the 2024 Assembly polls, this time aspires to win the seat by banking on the sympathy wave in favour of Dholakia.

Opposition Congress has named Ghasiram Majhi as its candidate, who is set to file his nomination papers on October 19. The BJD is yet to announce the name of its candidate. PTI AAM AAM MNB