Bhubaneswar, Oct 7 – The All India Congress Committee has picked tribal leader Ghasiram Majhi to fight the upcoming Nuapada by‑polls on Nov 11. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge approved the move after Majhi lost as an independent in the 2024 state elections, where he trailed the late BJP rival Rajendra Dholakia by 10,881 votes but still pulled more votes than the party’s own nominee, Sarat Pattanayak.
Majhi has upped the fight. He’s stood in Nuapada three times, including as the Congress candidate in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha contests. The party now wants to tap his tribal support base after the seat went open when former BJD minister Rajendra Dholakia died on Sept 8.
The Election Commission set the by‑poll timeline. Nominations close Oct 20, scrutiny Oct 22, withdrawal deadline Oct 24. Voting is scheduled for Nov 11 and counting on Nov 14, with all formalities finished by Nov 16. The model code of conduct is already in force across Nuapada following the announcement.
Voter rolls show 248,256 electors in the constituency—122,103 men, 126,132 women, and 21 trans voters (as of Sept 15). The Congress hopes Majhi’s tribal appeal can swing the seat, while the BJD will try to retain the seat in honor of the late Rajendra Dholakia.
Source: ianslive
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