Nuapada, a politically inconsequential Assembly constituency in western Odisha, has now been attracting attention for being the first seat where a by-election will be held after the BJP came to power in the state 15 months ago.

Winning the by-election is crucial for both the ruling BJP and the main opposition BJD, as it will also be the first test of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s popularity and a prestige issue of Naveen Patnaik, who was ousted as CM after being at the helm of the state for 24 years.

Though the date for the by-polls is yet to be announced, the ECI has indicated to hold it alongside the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, sources said.

The by-election in Nuapada is necessitated due to the death of its MLA and former minister Rajendra Dholakia September 8.

Dholakia

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