Bhubaneswar, October 15: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday announced the candidature of Jay Dholakia, son of late BJD leader and sitting MLA Rajendra Dholakia, as its nominee, for the Nuapada byelection scheduled to be held on November 11.

Recently, in a major setback to the BJD ahead of the Nuapada by-election in western Odisha, Jay joined the BJP at the State party headquarters in Bhubaneswar. The Nuapada seat fell vacant following Rajendra Dholakia’s death.

Jay is scheduled to file his nominations on October 16.

In the 2024 Assembly polls, Rajendra Dholakia had secured the seat with a margin of nearly 11,000 votes, while the BJP finished third.

Yesterday, even before the official announcement of BJP on its candidate for the by-poll, Rajya Sabha MP Sujit Kumar said that Jay will file his nomination papers on October 16 in presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, all Ministers and senior leaders of the party.

The Nuapada bye-election, being the first electoral fight, since the BJP came to power in Odisha last year, the outcome holds crucial significance for the party and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and former Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik as well.

The Congress has already nominated Ghasiram Majhi as its candidate for the by-election while Naveen Patnaik-led BJD is yet to finalise its candidate for the crucial bypoll.

Sources said BJD is likely to announce its candidate today with party supremo convening a crucial meeting of senior party leaders at Naveen Niwas.