How is Congress Preparing for the Nuapada Bypoll?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Congress forms strategic committees for Nuapada bypoll.
- Ghasiram Majhi is the party's candidate.
- Upcoming rally expected to attract 25,000 supporters.
- Nuapada seat vacant due to the death of Rajendra Dholakia.
- Strong competition expected from BJD and BJP.
Bhubaneswar, Oct 15 (NationPress) The Opposition Congress Party on Wednesday established various committees for the upcoming by-elections in the Nuapada assembly constituency, set for November 11.
The party has put together a steering committee consisting of ten members to oversee its campaigning and overall strategy during the Nuapada bye-elections.
The committee members include MP Saptagiri Ulaka, Debasish Patnaik, Vice-President of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), Siddharth Swarup Dash, OPCC Treasurer, and MLAs Ashok Das, Sagar Charan Das, K Appalla Swamy, Satyajeet Gomang, Mangu Khilla, Pabitra Saunta, and Nilamadhab Hikka.
In addition, a 22-member Election Monitoring Committee has also been established by the Congress for the Nuapada bypolls.
The Congress candidate for the Nuapada bypoll, Ghasiram Majhi, announced on Wednesday that he will submit his nomination on October 18, accompanied by OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das and several senior party leaders from Odisha and beyond.
Majhi also revealed that a significant rally will take place in Nuapada on October 18, anticipated to attract over 25,000 supporters and party workers.
Notably, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) declared tribal leader Ghasiram Majhi as its candidate for the Nuapada by-election on October 7.
Majhi previously contested the Nuapada constituency as an independent candidate in the 2024 Assembly polls after not receiving a ticket from the party.
Despite losing to the late Bharatiya Janata Dal (BJD) leader Rajendra Dholakia by 10,881 votes in the 2024 Assembly elections, he secured more votes than the Congress candidate and the former Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President, Sarat Pattanayak.
In total, Majhi has contested from this constituency three times but has faced defeat each time.
The Nuapada Assembly seat became vacant following the passing of former Minister and senior BJD leader Rajendra Dholakia on September 8.
Dholakia’s son, Jay Dholakia, has been nominated by the ruling BJP, while the main opposition BJD has chosen ex-minister Snehangini Chhuria as its candidate for the Nuapada by-elections.