Bhubaneswar: In another setback for BJD ahead of Nuapada bypoll in Odisha, senior party leader Lambodar Nial on Thursday joined the BJP in the presence of state president of the saffron party Manmohan Samal.
Speculation about Nial switching sides to BJP started following a breakfast meeting with BJP’s Nupada candidate Jay Dholakia, who was once seen as the probable BJD nominee for the bypoll, this morning.
Jay, however, asked reporters not to read too much into it. “Lombudar Nial was a close associate of my late father, Rajendra Dholakia, and is like a family member. He is here to congratulate me on being nominated as the BJP’s candidate for Nuapada bypoll. As a rule, we don’t discuss politics over food,” he asserted when asked about the possibility of the senior BJD leader switching sides to BJP.
However, Komna block BJD chairman, who was also present at Jay’s residence, confirmed that he along with Nial will be joining the BJP.
Jay joined BJP last week. Son of the late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, whose untimely demise on September 8 necessitated the bypoll, he is likely to file his nomination on October 18.
Nial had unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election as BJD’s MP candidate from Kalahandi. Since Nuapada comes under this Parliamentary constituency, his induction into BJP fold is likely to boost the party’s prospects in the November 11 bypoll to the assembly constituency, considered as a BJD stronghold.
Incidentally, CM Mohan Charan Majhi along with Samal will address a public meeting in Nuapada later in the day during which thousands of workers from other parties are likely to join the saffron party.
This is Majhi’s third visit to Nuapada after Dholakia’s death. He attended his memorial function on September 21 in Nuapada and announced a package of Rs 1,100 crore for the western Odisha district hours before the ECI announced the schedule for the bypoll on October 6. The CM had reportedly personally taken the initiative to bring Jay into the saffron party.
