Bhubaneswar, November 5: Expressing gratitude to the people of poll-bound Nuapada for their overwhelming response and massive participation at his public meeting in Komana on November 3, BJD president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said that he will be visiting Nuapada and Khariar Road on November 7 to seek their blessings.

“Juhar. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Nuapada for your overwhelming response and massive participation at the Komna public meeting,” said Patnaik in a video message released today.

“I will be visiting Nuapada and Khariar Road on November 7 to meet you once again, interact with you, and seek your blessings. In thank you all for your continued affection and support,” added the former Chief Minister.

Notably, addressing his first election campaign since being unseated after a 24-year uninterrupted tenure as Chief Minister, at a rally in Komana on November 3, Patnaik accused the BJP of “stealing a candidate”.

Patnaik’s reference was meant to the BJP’s nomination of Jay Dholakia, son of former BJD Minister Rajendra Dholakia, whose death necessitated the bypoll in the Nuapada Assembly constituency. Jay had joined the BJP and secured its nomination shortly before the announcement of the election dates. He was earlier being considered by the BJD for the by-election.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his Chhattisgarh counterpart Vishnu Deo Sai will also hit campaign train in Nuapada on Thursday in support of BJP candidate Jay Dholakia in the Nuapada Assembly byelection.

Nuapada byelection will be held on November 11 and the results will be declared on November 14.

BJD has fielded Snehangini Chhuria seeking votes in the name of Rajendra Dholakia. Congress threw its weight behind Ghasiram Majhi, runner-up in the 2024 general elections as an independent.