Bhubaneswar, Nov 7: BJD Supremo Naveen Patnaik on Friday left for Nuapada to campaign for Snehangini Chhuria, party nominee ahead of the bypoll.

Naveen is scheduled to address people in two public meetings at Nuapada and Khariar Road on the day where he will appeal the mass to vote for Snehangini Chhuria.

Earlier, xpressing 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.

Later on in a video message Naveen also reached people saying “Juhar. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Nuapada for your overwhelming response and massive participation at the Komna public meeting.”

“I will be visiting Nuapada and Khariar Road on November 7 to meet you once again, interact with you, and seek your blessings. I 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 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 being considered by the BJD for the crucial by-election.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his Chhattisgarh counterpart Vishnu Deo Sai hit the campaign trail in poll-bound Nuapada on Thursday in support of BJP candidate Jay Dholakia.

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

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

Meanwhile, the BJD has sought heightened security for the party president during Naveen’s poll campaign at Nuapada today, anticipating foul plays from its oppositions.