Bhubaneswar, Nov 13: The political atmosphere in Odisha has heated up as the decisive counting of votes for the Nuapada by-election is set to be held tomorrow, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claiming it is on course to secure a record-breaking victory.

BJP State General Secretary Biranchi Narayan Tripathy declared that the saffron party is set to win by the highest margin ever seen in any by-election in the state, while accusing the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of resorting to “false allegations and baseless claims” out of frustration over an impending defeat.

BJP’s Claim of Historic Victory

Tripathy said the people of Nuapada have overwhelmingly supported the BJP, and the party is poised to script history with a margin larger than any previous by-election in Odisha. He alleged that the BJD has already realized its defeat and, in desperation, its leaders have begun spreading misinformation to mislead voters.

Allegations Against BJD

The BJP leader criticized BJD chief and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s campaign language, calling it “unacceptable in politics.” He further accused senior BJD leaders of fabricating stories, including claims of trucks carrying EVMs from Ganjam to Nuapada and posting edited photos on social media to suggest vote manipulation. Such actions, he said, insult both democracy and the people of Nuapada.

Tripathy questioned why BJD polling agents, who were present at booths during voting, did not raise objections at the time if irregularities had occurred. He noted that several media representatives were also present and none reported malpractice. Raising allegations days after polling, he argued, reflects BJD’s frustration rather than fact.

Also Read: Nuapada Bypoll Sees Record 83.45% Voter Turnout

Defence of BJP’s Position

Tripathy emphasized that the BJP believes in free and fair elections and has never tolerated irregularities. He accused the BJD of avoiding self-reflection on why it has lost public support, instead resorting to “false narratives.” According to him, the people of Odisha have already rejected the BJD, and Nuapada voters will follow suit.

Concluding his remarks, Tripathy described the BJD as a “declining political force in Odisha,” unable to accept the growing popularity of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi among Nuapada residents.