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Summary:

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), a dominant political party in Odisha for the past two decades, plans to formally challenge the results of the recent Nuapada by-election with the Election Commission of India (EC). They allege discrepancies and potential manipulation of voting patterns, particularly in 63 identified polling booths. This action comes after the BJD’s significant loss in the by-election, where they placed third behind the BJP and Congress, a result they find difficult to accept, despite active campaigning by party leader Naveen Patnaik.

News Article:

Odisha’s BJD to Challenge By-Election Results, Alleges Voting Irregularities

BHUBANESWAR – November 22, 2025 – The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) announced Saturday that it will file a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India (EC) regarding the recently concluded Nuapada by-election, citing “serious irregularities” in the polling process. The move follows a decisive victory for BJP candidate Jay Dholakia, which saw the BJD fall to a distant third place.

At a meeting of the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC), BJD leaders, including former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, expressed disbelief over the election outcome. They identified 63 specific polling booths where they suspect the voting patterns were manipulated or did not accurately reflect the party’s support base.

“We don’t know where our votes have gone,” stated PAC member Pramila Mallik. “Our cadres are expressing shock and disbelief over the bypoll outcome. We will submit a formal representation to the EC.” The party also hinted at the possibility of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering.

The BJD, which has been a dominant force in Odisha politics for the past two decades, is struggling to reconcile with the by-election results. Dholakia secured 1,23,869 votes, Congress nominee Ghasi Ram Majhi received 40,121, while the BJD candidate garnered only 38,408. The party previously conducted a review of voting patterns following its defeat in the 2024 elections, questioning the timing of the spike in vote percentage towards the end of polling. The party now seeks the EC’s intervention.

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