Bhubaneswar: The political landscape of Nuapada, Odisha, has been dramatically reshaped with the significant and surprising entry of Shri Jay Dholkia, the son of the revered late Biju Janata Dal leader and four-time MLA, Shri Rajendra Dholkia, into the fold of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
This high-profile defection, which was formally announced amidst much speculation, introduces a compelling new dynamic into the impending Nuapada by-election, necessitated by the untimely demise of his father, Shri Rajendra Dholkia, who passed away on September 8, 2025.
Shri Rajendra Dholkia was a formidable political figure in the region, having represented the Nuapada constituency in the Odisha Legislative Assembly four times, including a tenure as a Cabinet Minister in the Government of Odisha. His political career was deeply intertwined with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), though he initially won the seat as an independent candidate in 2004.
The sudden political realignment of his son, Shri Jay Dholkia, towards the Bharatiya Janata Party is viewed by political analysts as a profound strategic maneuver by the saffron party to capitalize on the sympathy wave and the powerful political legacy associated with the Dholkia family in the Nuapada region.
Sources indicate that the opposition Biju Janata Dal had been seriously considering Shri Jay Dholkia as its natural successor and candidate for the crucial by-election. His decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, therefore, marks a considerable setback for the BJD, forcing them to quickly re-evaluate their electoral strategy in the constituency.
The move is particularly impactful as the Nuapada by-election is the first major electoral test in Odisha following the recent change in state government, amplifying the significance of the contest for both the ruling and opposition parties.
Shri Jay Dholkia is now widely anticipated to be the Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate for the Nuapada assembly seat. His transition has immediately intensified the political heat in the run-up to the by-poll, setting the stage for an electrifying contest.
Observers suggest that the family’s deep-rooted connections within the constituency, combined with the new organizational muscle of the Bharatiya Janata Party, could fundamentally alter the political arithmetic of the region and pose a serious challenge to the BJD’s dominance in this particular segment of Odisha’s politics. The move underscores the ever-shifting alliances and the intensely competitive nature of electoral politics in the state.