Bhubaneswar, Oct 16 – BJP candidate Jay Dholakia confirmed he will file his nomination papers for the Nuapada Assembly bypoll on October 18. The BJP’s Central Election Committee announced Dholakia as its candidate for the Nuapada bypoll on October 15, with an initial plan for him to submit his nomination papers on October 16.

Dholakia stated, “Yes, we had decided to file nomination papers on Thursday. But, I received a call from our ‘Maharaj’ who advised me to file nomination at the ‘Amrut Bela’ on October 18. We respect the advice of our ‘Maharaj’ and therefore postponed the nomination filing plan today,” during a press interaction at his residence in Nuapada.

Jay Dholakia, the son of former BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, was initially considered a candidate for the BJD but switched allegiance to the ruling BJP last week, securing his position as the BJP candidate for the bypoll.

The Nuapada Assembly bypoll became necessary following the untimely death of Rajendra Dholakia on September 8. Voting for the bypoll is scheduled for November 11.

It was anticipated that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister KV Sigh Deo, BJP state president Manmohan Samal, and other senior leaders would attend the nomination filing on Thursday. However, Dholakia noted that the chief minister and other senior leaders would participate in a significant ‘Misran Parv’ (joining programme) expected to draw around 40,000 attendees.

In addition, Congress candidate Ghasiram Majhi announced his intention to file nomination papers on October 18. The BJD has nominated senior leader Snehangini Chhuria as its candidate for the Nuapada bypoll, although she has yet to disclose the date for her nomination submission. The nomination filing process for the bypoll will remain open until October 20, according to sources.