Bhubaneswar, Oct 21: The Nuapada by-election has taken a contentious turn as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday demanded the rejection of Congress candidate Ghasiram Majhi’s nomination papers, citing alleged concealment of criminal cases in his affidavit submitted to the Election Commission.

Alleged Omission in Affidavit

According to BJP leaders, Congress nominee Ghasiram Majhi failed to disclose two pending cases registered at Nuapada police station — case numbers 146/2022 and 10/2018 — in his current affidavit for the bypoll. These cases are reportedly under trial in the SDJM court. While Majhi had mentioned them during the 2024 general elections, BJP claimed he deliberately omitted them this time, violating Section 125-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Briefing the media here, BJP’s state vice president Dr. Jatin Mohanty stated that such concealment constitutes a punishable offense and urged the State Election Commission to cancel Majhi’s nomination. “This is a serious breach of electoral ethics. The Congress party, which lacks internal democracy, has become a shelter for criminal and anti-social elements,” Mohanty alleged.

Also Read: Minister Suresh Pujari Urges Issue-Based Campaign in Nuapada Bypoll

BJP’s Broader Critique

Mohanty further criticized the Congress party’s ideological decline, claiming that its leaders are disconnected from constitutional values and public trust. He accused the party of shielding candidates with questionable backgrounds and said Majhi’s case exemplifies this trend.

The press briefing was attended by BJP spokesperson Dilip Mallik, media coordinator Sujit Das, legal cell head Jayanta Jena, and advocate Truptimayi Makaddam.

Nuapada Bypoll on Nov 11

The Nuapada bypoll, scheduled for November 11, has become a high-stakes contest among BJD, BJP, and Congress. BJP has fielded Jay Dholakia, son of the late MLA Rajendra Dholakia. BJD’s choice of Snehangini Chhuria has reportedly triggered internal dissent, while Congress hopes to consolidate votes with Majhi, who previously polled over 50,000 votes as a rebel.