Bhubaneswar, October 23: The ruling BJP has appointed eight senior Ministers to manage the bypoll to Nuapada Assembly seat to be held on November 11. The eight Ministers have been given charges of eight different zones in the Assembly segment to ensure party’s victory.

Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik has given the charge of Banjari zone, Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia will be looking after Sundei zone, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallick will be in-charge of the Pataleswar zone.

Similarly, Foods Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra will be looking after the Jayjangha zone while Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena will be in-charge of Konabhaira zone, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond will be looking after Jogeswar and Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling and Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra have been given the charges of Nuapada NAC and Khariar Road zones, respectively.

BJP has fielded Jay Dholakia, son of late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, whose death necessitated the by poll, while the BJD fielded former Minister Snehangini Chhuria. Congress has fielded Ghasiram Majhi as its candidate for the crucial bye-election.

The ruling BJP is expected to draw on the sympathy for Jay’s late father, a four-time MLA and former Minister. In the 2024 Assembly election, Rajendra had polled 61,822 votes and won the Nuapada seat with a margin of 10,881 over Ghasiram, who had contested as an independent candidate then. BJP’s Abhinandan Panda, with 44,814 votes, had finished third.