"All preparatory arrangements are being made for Nuapada assembly by-election": Odisha CEO Gopalan

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], October 14 (ANI): As Nuapada is gearing up for the upcoming Assembly constituency by-election, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer R S Gopalan confirmed that all arrangements are underway to ensure a smooth and transparent voting process.
Speaking to ANI on Monday, Gopalan announced that the official Gazette notification for the by-election has been published, formally initiating the electoral process.
"Today, the Gazette notification has been formally published. From today till the 20th is the period for filing nominations. We will accept nomination papers until the 20th...The scrutiny will be held on the 22nd, and the last date for withdrawal is the 24th. Polling will take place on November 11th. The campaign period will continue until 5 pm on November 9," Odisha CEO said.
Regarding the preparations, Gopalan stated, "All preparatory arrangements are being made, and police arrangements are also good."
Odisha CEO added that all 358 polling booths in the constituency will be equipped with real-time webcasting facilities to ensure complete transparency during the voting process.
Meanwhile, BJD leader Dibya Shankar Mishra has criticised the BJP for fielding Rajendra Dholakia's son in the Nuapada Assembly constituency by-election set to be held on November 11, following his father's demise.
Mishra alleged that this move is an example of "horse trading" and "political corruption."
Mishra claimed that the BJP's decision to field Jay Dholakia is unethical, especially after he had promised to support the BJD leadership.
Speaking on Jay Dholakia joining the BJP, he said, "Rajendra Dholakia was more of a social worker... So after his demise, his son promised that he believes in the leadership of Navin Patnaik... Now that he has joined the BJP, it has been a totally unethical practice, and I believe there is strong political corruption... They have done this horse trading earlier also in our Rajeshwara..."
Mishra expressed confidence in the BJD's candidate, stating that the party has strong candidates and the people of Nuapada have consistently voted for the BJD.
"We have strong candidates from the BJD. BJP didn't have any candidate, which is why they took Jay Dholkia from BJD to BJP. BJP and Congress will stand no chance; the people of Nuapada have voted for BJD time and again," he stated to ANI
Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge approved the candidature of Ghasiram Majhi as the party's nominee for the upcoming bye-election to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from the 71-Nuapada constituency.
The announcement was made through an official press release issued by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
The bypoll in Nuapada was necessitated following the vacancy in the Assembly seat, and the Congress leadership has now formalised its choice of Majhi to contest on behalf of the party.
Earlier, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that by-elections for eight assembly constituencies across seven states and Union Territories will take place on November 11.
The counting of votes for the by-election is scheduled for November 14. These by-elections are being held to fill vacancies caused by various reasons such as resignations, deaths, or disqualifications.
The by-elections will take place in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam and Nagrota districts, Rajasthan's Anta district, Jharkhand's Ghatshila district, Telangana's Jubilee Hills district, Punjab's Tarn Taran district, Mizoram's Dampa district, and Odisha's Nuapada district. (ANI)