Overview
- Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai campaigned together in Nuapada for BJP candidate Jay Dholakia.
- Majhi alleged the BJD neglected its ailing MLA Rajendra Dholakia and accused the party of double standards by poaching candidates, citing examples from Kakatpur and Bijepur.
- Sai criticized Naveen Patnaik for not learning Odia during 24 years in office and contrasted him with Kalahandi MP Malavika Devi to press a cultural message.
- The BJP broadside followed Patnaik’s November 3 remark that Nuapada felt "betrayed" by Jay Dholakia becoming the BJP nominee after being seen as a possible BJD pick.
- The bypoll, necessitated by Rajendra Dholakia’s death, is being framed as a prestige contest with a sharper personal tone, and no immediate BJD rebuttal to Thursday’s charges was reported.