
Snehangini Chhuria Named BJD Candidate for Nuapada Bypoll 2025
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has named former minister Snehangini Chhuria as its candidate for the Nuapada Assembly by-election, scheduled for November 11. The seat fell vacant following the death of sitting MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8.
Chhuria, a seasoned leader with ministerial experience, will face off against BJP’s Jay Dholakia—son of the late MLA—and Congress’s tribal leader Ghasiram Majhi. The contest is expected to be a three-way battle, with each party banking on legacy, grassroots appeal, and regional representation.
Rajendra Dholakia had held the Nuapada seat four times since 2004, first as an independent and later as a BJD stalwart. In the 2024 Assembly elections, he defeated Majhi by over 11,000 votes, securing 61,822 votes. BJP’s Abhinandan Panda and Congress’s Sarat Patnaik trailed behind.
With Chhuria’s nomination, BJD aims to reclaim its stronghold and honor Dholakia’s legacy, while BJP and Congress seek to reshape the region’s political narrative.