Bhubaneswar, October 18: The upcoming by-election in Nuapada is set to be a high-profile and fiercely contested affair, with significant political rivalry anticipated on November 11. The ruling BJP, along with the opposition BJD and Congress, have already named their candidates and are now preparing for a robust campaign across the remote western region of Nuapada Assembly.

All three major political parties have declared their lists of star campaigners, with heavyweight leaders from across the country gearing up to woo voters in this crucial by-election.

Among the prominent figures leading the charge are Odisha’s BJP CM Mohan Charan Majhi, Telangana’s Congress CM A. Revanth Reddy, and Chhattisgarh’s BJP CM Vishnu Deo Sai. Former Chief Ministers from Odisha, Naveen Patnaik (BJD) and Giridhar Gamang (Congress), alongside Chhattisgarh’s Bhupesh Baghel, will also join the fray, adding to the intensity of the campaign.

The BJP has also announced its Union Ministers, namely Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Jual Oram, to take part in the campaign. Odisha's Deputy Chief Ministers, KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, will also be involved in rallying support for the BJP candidate.

The Congress party has similarly brought in heavyweights, with Telangana’s Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Rajasthan’s former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot will also campaign for their candidate. The Congress list Alka Lamba, Uday Bhanu Chib, and Varun Choudhury as star campaigners.

In this three-way battle, the BJP has fielded Jay Dholakia, the son of late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, whose untimely death on September 8 necessitated the by-election. The BJD, in turn, has chosen its women’s wing president, Snehangini Chhuria, as its candidate, while Congress has nominated seasoned local leader Ghasiram Majhi, who fought the election in 2024 and secured more than 50 thousand votes as an independent candidate in the Nuapada assembly seat..

The campaign will also see the return of several actor-turned-politicians, including Sidhant Mahapatra, Anubhav Mohanty, and Akash Das Nayak, who were once associated with the BJD but are now supporting the BJP in this election.

As the nomination process ends by October 20, the political activity in Nuapada is expected to reach its peak.

With over 2.53 lakh voters in the constituency, this by-election would be a closely watched contest that could have significant implications for the future political landscape of the region.