Nuapada by-election: Naveen Patnaik holds important meeting with senior party leaders

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik is chairing an important meeting with senior party leaders at his residence Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar.

Senior party leaders like Pranab Prakash Das, Niranjan Pujari, Snehangini Chhuria, Niranjan Bishi along with Manoj Mishra, Bhanu Pratap Singh Majhi and Mohammad Adam have reached the Naveen Niwas.

During the meeting, it is expected that the conch party would finalise its candidate for the upcoming Nuapada by-election. The other two major parties Congress and BJP have already announced their candidates. While Congress has fielded Ghasiram Majhi, the saffron party picked Jay Dholakia, the son of former Nuapada MLA late Rajendra Dholakia, as its contender for the by-election.

The Nuapada by-election was necessitated following the untimely death of sitting MLA Rajenda Dholakia, who died on September 8 while undergoing treatment for kidney-related ailments at a private hospital in Chennai.

As per the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Gazette Notification for by-election was issued on October 13 (Monday) following which the candidates can file their nominations on or before October 20 (Monday).

Scrutiny of the candidates’ nominations will be done on October 22 (Wednesday) while the candidates who want can withdraw their candidatures before October 24 (Friday). Following this, the voting for the Nuapada by-election will be held on November 11 and the counting on November 14.