Overview
- Naveen Patnaik held a three-hour roadshow from Khariar Road to Nuapada on November 7 and addressed a large meeting in Parkod to seek votes for Snehangini Chhuria.
- Patnaik called the BJP's 'double engine' rule a 'double betrayal' and pointed to unmet pledges on free electricity, higher pensions, urea for farmers and Mission Shakti loans.
- He accused the BJP of 'candidate theft' in a remark widely linked to Jay Dholakia's exit from the BJD.
- BJP leader Sambit Patra rejected the allegation, said Jay Dholakia left out of self-respect and accused Patnaik of maligning the Dholakia family.
- The bypoll, necessitated by the death of MLA Rajendra Dholakia, is scheduled for November 11 with the BJD foregrounding local gains including irrigation, drinking water and the Biju Expressway.