Nuapada, Nov 5: Nuapada has become the center of Odisha’s political attention as top leaders from all major parties- BJD, BJP, and Congress- descend on the district for high-voltage campaigning ahead of the by-election. The influx of political workers, vehicles, and visitors has sent local business soaring, with overall transactions estimated to cross Rs50 crore by the end of the campaign.

Fuel sales have skyrocketed since the nomination day on October 18. According to the manager of Kalyan Filling Station, daily petrol sales rose from 2,300 liters to over 3,000 liters, and diesel sales jumped from 3,000 to nearly 6,000 liters. With 18 petrol pumps in the constituency, total fuel sales now exceed Rs1 crore a day - amounting to nearly Rs20 crore during the campaign period.

Accommodation costs have also surged. Nuapada’s four main hotels- Trisha, Niladri Bihar Lodge, Megha, and Adyasha-are fully booked, with rooms costing Rs3,000–Rs4,000 per night. BJP has booked Trisha and Adyasha, Congress has taken over Megha, while BJD leaders are renting private houses at record prices. Over 1,000 houses in Nuapada, Khariar Road, and Komna have been rented, some fetching as high as Rs2.5 lakh.

Liquor and food businesses are booming too. Crowds throng all local liquor shops, with daily sales running into lakhs. The Election Commission has already seized liquor worth Rs98 lakh. Hotels, eateries, and grocery stores are witnessing shortages due to the sudden population spike, forcing shopkeepers to hike prices.

Even neighboring regions- including Padmapur, Paikmal, and Titilagarh- report full occupancy and brisk trade. As campaigning peaks, Nuapada’s by-election has turned into both a political and commercial festival.