Nuapada, Oct 14: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) faced another setback in Nuapada district as two senior leaders resigned from the Naveen Patnaik-led regional party, intensifying political tremors ahead of the November 11 bypoll.

Kalia Pradhan, the District General Secretary of BJD, submitted his resignation to the District President, citing support for Jay Dholakia, who recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Pradhan’s exit follows that of District Vice President Chandrakant Thakur, who left the party earlier in the day.

The resignations have sparked unrest within the BJD camp, especially in Nuapada and the state capital, as Jay Dholakia—son of late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia—was once considered the party’s likely candidate for the Nuapada seat. His switch to BJP on Saturday has triggered a wave of defections and internal dissent.

Sources suggest that Dholakia’s growing influence and grassroots support have prompted several BJD leaders to reconsider their allegiance. The timing of these resignations, just weeks before the bypoll, could significantly impact the party’s prospects in the region.

Also Read: Nuapada Bypoll: Tribal Votes And Sympathy Tactics On The Cards

Political observers believe this shift may reshape the local electoral dynamics, with BJP gaining momentum and BJD scrambling to retain its foothold.

As the countdown to the Nuapada by-election begins, all eyes are on how the BJD navigates this internal churn and whether the BJP can capitalize on the growing wave of support.