Jay Dholakia, son of former BJD Minister, joins BJP

In a turn of events, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received a huge boost on Saturday, October 11, 2025, with the late minister’s son Jay Dholakia and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Rajendra Dholkia joining, whose death necessitated a by-poll in Odisha’s Nuapada Assembly constituency.

The BJP is likely to nominate Jay Dholakia as its candidate in the general election scheduled to be held on November 14. It was widely speculated that the BJD would nominate Mr Jay to capitalize on the sympathy factor following his father’s death.

Mr. Jay arrived at the BJP State office in an impressive procession. The significance of his inauguration became clear when Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo and State BJP president Manmohan Samal personally welcomed him into the party ranks.

“Former Minister Rajendra Dholakia had many rivals on ideological grounds, but he had no enemies,” said Mr. Majhi, hinting at his BJP son’s candidacy in the bypolls.

“The upcoming general election marks the saffron party’s first electoral test after its surprise victory in the 2024 Assembly elections. The BJP leadership is wary of any negativity in the bye elections. If such a situation happens, the current State leadership will come into disrepute vis-à-vis the national leadership,” senior journalist and political analyst Rabi Das said.

Sources said the BJD was making concerted efforts to dissuade Mr Jay from switching sides, given his family’s strong influence in the Nuapada district, which shares its border with Chhattisgarh. Over the past decade, the regional party had consolidated its base around the Dholakia family.

“The situation would have been different if former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was still in power. His popularity alone was enough to ensure the victory of many often little-known candidates,” Mr. Das added.

“Mr Jay was in touch with us till late on Friday night. But he did not arrive this morning,” said a senior BJD leader, who did not want to be named.

Mr Jay’s decision to join the saffron party has shaken the political equations in Nuapada. The move has reportedly upset former MP and former president of the State BJP, Basant Panda, as his son Abhinandan Panda is running for the seat. But party leaders are said to have convinced Mr. Panda of the strategic importance of winning the general elections and its wider implications on Odisha politics.

While both the BJP and BJD are yet to announce their candidates for the bypoll, the Congress has announced Ghasiram Majhi as its candidate.