By Nageshwar Patnaik in Bhubaneswar, November 11, 2025: With the end of voting for the by-election to the Nuapada Assembly constituency in Odisha on Tuesday, all eyes are on the outcome. The by-poll holds political significance for three major parties, ruling BJP, opposition BJD, and the Congress, as it’s the first battle of ballots in the state since the saffron party formed its government last year.

More than 75 per cent of the 2.53 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm on Tuesday. In 2024 election, the voter turnout touched was 75.44%. The by-poll was necessitated following the death of sitting BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia on. The regional party has fielded Snehangini Chhuria to retain the seat, while the BJP has nominated Jay Dholakia, son of the late legislator. The Congress, which has been out of power in the state since 2000, has fielded veteran tribal leader Ghasiram Majhi as its candidate. Majhi was the runner-up in the 2024 assembly polls by securing over 50,000 votes.

Most importantly, the popularity of former chief minister, Naveen Patnaik is on test while Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who visited Nuapada at least six times in the run-up to the by-poll, has taken it as a prestige issue. The ruling party in general emerges victorious in the by-polls, but the outcome of the Nuapada by-poll may spring a surprise as tribal voters, who constitute over 35 per cent of the 2.53 lakh electorate in Nuapada are set to play a decisive role in the three-way battle.

Congress has fielded Ghasiram Majhi, a local tribal stalwart as its candidate, while BJD candidate Snehangini Chhuria hails from the Scheduled Caste community from Bargarh district. BJP nominee Jay Dholakia is from the general category. In the 2024 Assembly elections, BJD candidate Rajendra Dholakia had won the seat, defeating Ghasiram Majhi, who had contested as an Independent after being denied a ticket by Congress. While Congress candidate came second to Dholakia by polling more than 50,000 votes, BJP candidate had finished third. Naveen Patnaik attracted huge crowd during the campaign even as he is out of power. However, whether that would translate to winning the battle of ballots is the moot question.

Being the only tribal candidate in the fray, Ghasiram Majhi is making an all-out effort to consolidate the Adivasi votes behind Congress. Nuapada is home to different tribal communities, with the Gond being one of the most populous groups. Other prominent tribes in the constituency include the Chukotia Bhunjia, who are concentrated on the Sunabeda plateau, and include subgroups like the Chinda Bhunjia. The tribal population in the area also includes groups like Holva, Kandha Gauda, Bariha and Mirdha. Of late, tribal votes appeared to have been divided among different political parties.

The ruling BJP, which has fielded late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia’s son Jay, took several measures to woo the tribal electorate. The BJP cited the examples of tribal leader Mohan Charan Majhi becoming the Chief Minister and Droupadi Murmu being the President. They also cited the example of tribal heavyweight and Sundargarh MP Jual Oram being made Union Minister for Tribal Affairs.

This apart, the farmers’ issue remains central to the saffron strategy. The government’s input subsidy of Rs 800 per quintal of paddy has earned goodwill among cultivators. Ministers conducted door-to-door outreach ahead of the bypoll, presenting the scheme as a proof of BJP’s pro-farmer governance. Similarly, BJD began its poll programme by holding a Tribal Convention at Adivasi Samaj Bhawan at Tanuat in Nuapada last month with an eye on Adivasi votes.

According to newspaper reports, a large number of tribal leaders participated in the convention and expressed their support to the party candidate. In her address at the tribal convention, BJD candidate Snehangini Chhuria alleged that the condition of tribals has deteriorated under the present BJP government. “The tribal community feels unsafe under the BJP regime, with increasing incidents of violence, exploitation, and atrocities, including cases of sexual assault in tribal school hostels. The BJD will continue to fight for the dignity, safety, and rights of tribal people,” she claimed. BJD also revoked the expulsion order of prominent tribal leader of Nuapada, Bhanu Pratap Singh Majhi. He was expelled in 2024 for opposing the official candidate the last time.

On his part, Congress candidate Majhi claims that he got blessings of Adivasis in all elections in the past. He expressed optimism about the continuance of the similar love and affection from the community. “Making a tribal the candidate in the by-poll proves that Congress was the real friend of the community. Both BJD and BJP have neglected tribal people and kept them backward,” he said. To woo tribal votes, state Congress president Bhakta Charan Das had participated in Giri Govardhan Puja at Tarbod village during the initial phase of the campaign.

The outcome of the by-election will be very crucial for BJD chief Naveen Patnaik as well as the chief minister, Mohan Majhi. Congress largely banks upon its president Bhakta Charan Das to revive the beleaguered party. The outcome Nuapada by-poll will definitely set the tone for the role of three major political parties in the state.