Bhubaneswar, November 4: BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik's chartered flight was checked by personnel of the Election Commission's flying squad in poll-bound Nuapada on Monday.

Patnaik was in Komana block in Nuapada district yesterday to address an election rally to seek votes in favour of party candidate Snehangini Chhuria.

“In view of the upcoming #Nuapada Bye-Election 2025, the Flying Squad Team–4 and Video Surveillance Team conducted a thorough checking of Shri Naveen Patnaik, Leader of the Opposition and BJD President flight and helicopter as part of the enforcement measures under the MCC,” tweets Nuapada Collector.

Election Commission’s flying squad is entrusted with undertaking such inspections, notwithstanding the personality.

Notably, addressing a public rally yesterday, the former Chief Minister launched a sharp attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of “stealing candidates” to contest elections.

The BJD chief’s remarks were aimed at late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia’s son Jay Dholakia, who switched to the BJP ahead of the bypoll and is now contesting on a saffron party ticket.

Nuapada will go to vote on November 11 and results will be declared in November 14.

While BJP has fielded Jay Dholakia, the son of sitting BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia for the by-poll. Ghasiram Majhi is contesting the election on Congress ticket.

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of Rajendra Dholakia on September 8.