Nuapada, October 20 : The by-election for the Nuapada assembly seat is being considered an important political battleground. As today is the last day for filing nominations, various parties have intensified their campaign by announcing their candidates.
Snehangini Chhuria has filed her nomination from the BJD. She did this in a grand procession with party workers and supporters. Rajya Sabha member Niranjan Trikaya, senior BJD leader Sanjay Dasbarma and many other leaders were present on the occasion.
The BJP and the Congress have also declared their candidates, making this by-election a tightly contested one. Jay Dholakia, son of retired MLA Rajendra Dholakia, has filed his nomination as the BJP candidate. He also filed his nomination in the presence of thousands of supporters. He was accompanied by senior BJP leaders Manmohan Samal, Malvika Deb, Basant Panda, Abhinandan Panda, Bhavendra Panda and several ministers and MLAs.
Gajiram Majhi has filed his nomination as a Congress candidate. The three parties have started their campaigning according to their respective strategies.
This by-election is being described as a tough contest as it is a test of the party’s popularity and strategy for the BJD. Meanwhile, the BJP, which is contesting this seat for the first time, is considering it as a battle of establishment.
To intensify the campaigning, various parties are preparing to bring their star campaigners and prominent leaders to Nuapada. According to reports, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi from BJD, Dharmendra Pradhan from BJP, Ashwini Baishnab, Jual Oram from BJP and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai will campaign.
The entire Nuapada region is currently busy with election campaigning. Ministers, MLAs and prominent leaders are visiting the villages. The BJP, based on its 15-month-long campaign, is campaigning on development issues, while the Congress is highlighting law and order and the problems of the common man.
Certainly, this by-election is an important opportunity for the three major parties not only to contest elections but also to demonstrate the convergence of party values and popularity.
