Bhubaneswar, Nov. 14 -- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Jay Dholkia on Friday clinched a historic victory in the Nuapada Assembly by-poll, defeating Congress nominee Ghasiram Majhi by a record margin of 83,748 votes in a multi-cornered contest.
The ruling BJP successfully wrested the seat from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), marking a significant political moment for the newly formed BJP government after ending the BJD's 24-year rule under Naveen Patnaik.
Although 14 candidates were in the fray, the real contest centered around the BJP, BJD, and Congress.
The by-election was necessitated following the demise of sitting BJD MLA Rajendra Dholkia, who had represented Nuapada four times - once as an independent and three times as a BJD can...