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Bhubaneswar, Oct 16 (IANS) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday released a list of 40 senior leaders who will campaign for party candidate Jai Dholakia during the Nuapada by-election.
The list includes Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jual Oram, Organizational in charge Sunil Bansal, Odisha in charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar and co-in charge Lata Usendi, Odisha BJP president Manmohal Samal.
Apart from this, many state government ministers, BJP MPs and MLAs will also campaign in favor of BJP candidate Dholakia.
The list includes Deputy CM KV Singh Dev, Pravati Parida, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Baijayant Jai Panda, Dr. Sambit Patra etc.
The party on Wednesday announced Jai Dholakia, son of former minister and senior BJD leader late Rajendra Dholakia, as its candidate for the Nuapada bypoll, scheduled to be held on November 11.
Earlier, there were speculations about Jai Dholakia following his father’s footsteps and contesting the by-election on BJD ticket. However, in an interesting twist, he joined the ruling BJP on Saturday (November 11).
Dholakia is expected to file his nomination on October 18 instead of Thursday, as party sources had earlier reported.
Political experts have claimed that the ruling BJP will leave no stone unturned to win the by-election, its first after assuming power in the state.
Notably, the nomination process started on Monday and candidates can file their nominations till October 20, the last date to file them.
The nominations will be scrutinized on October 22 and candidates can withdraw their candidature till October 24. The by-election for Nuapada assembly seat is to be held on November 11, while the counting of votes will take place on November 14.
Congress has fielded tribal leader Ghasiram Majhi, while BJD has fielded former minister Snehangini Churiya as its candidate.
Nuapada assembly seat fell vacant after the death of senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Rajendra Dholakia on September 8.
–IANS
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