In a press briefing held on October 6, 2025, Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), R. Santh Gopalan, announced the schedule for the bye-election to the 71-Nuapada Assembly Constituency (A.C.), following the declaration by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The announcement comes amid ongoing electoral preparations, including voter roll revisions and logistical setups, ensuring a smooth and transparent polling process.
The bye-election schedule is as follows: The Gazette Notification will be issued on October 13, 2025 (Monday), with the last date for nominations set for October 20, 2025 (Monday). Scrutiny of nominations will occur on October 22, 2025 (Wednesday), and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is October 24, 2025 (Friday). Polling is scheduled for November 11, 2025 (Tuesday), followed by counting on November 14, 2025 (Friday). The election process must be completed by November 16, 2025 (Sunday).
With the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into immediate effect across the entire Nuapada district. This applies to all political activities, government agencies, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) in the area, aiming to maintain a level playing field and prevent any undue influence during the campaign period.
As per the draft electoral roll published in September 2025, the constituency has a total of 248,256 electors, comprising 122,103 males, 126,132 females, and 21 third-gender voters. Among these, there are 4,000 Persons with Disabilities (PwD) voters and 2,007 voters aged above 85 years. A Special Summary Revision of the electoral roll is currently underway for the 71-Nuapada A.C., with the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) advised to dispose of all claims and objections by October 7, 2025. The final electoral roll will be published on October 9, 2025, and will be updated up to the nomination filing date for use in the election.
The constituency features 358 polling stations, including 56 newly created ones to accommodate booths with over 1,200 voters, ensuring better accessibility and reduced crowding. Adequate Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) have been procured, with 720 units each of Ballot Units, Control Units, and VVPATs available—double the number of polling stations. First-level checking of these machines has already been completed by the District Election Officer (DEO) and Collector of Nuapada.
Special provisions have been made for absentee voters, including those above 85 years and PwD voters marked in the electoral roll. They will receive Form-12-D to opt for postal ballots. Voters choosing postal ballots will not be allowed to vote in person, though those preferring physical voting can do so.
To promote transparency, candidates with criminal antecedents must publish details of their records in newspapers and on television channels on three separate occasions during the campaign. Political parties nominating such candidates are also required to disclose this information on their websites, in newspapers, and on TV channels thrice.
Additionally, webcasting will be implemented in all polling booths to monitor the process in real-time, enhancing accountability and deterring malpractices.
The press briefing was attended by key officials, including Additional CEO Sushant Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary Pramod Kumar Sahu, and Deputy CEO Dr. Lakshmi Prasad Sahu.
This bye-election underscores Odisha’s commitment to fair and inclusive democratic practices, with all stakeholders urged to adhere to the MCC for a peaceful electoral exercise.
Nuapada Gears Up for Bypoll
In a press briefing held today, District Collector Madhusudan Das formally informed media representatives about the enforcement of MCC and the upcoming electoral timeline.
The press meet, convened under the Collector’s directive, saw participation from key administrative and police officials, including SP Amrit Pal Singh, Additional Collectors Subash Chandra Rait and Prafulla Kujur, Chief Development Officer Lambodar Dharua, Sub-Collector Surmi Soren, Deputy Election Officer Sheikh Nasim, and District Information & Public Relations Officer Vidyapati Panda. Representatives from various media outlets were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Collector Das stated that the official Gazette Notification for the bypoll will be issued on October 13. The last date for filing nominations is October 20, followed by scrutiny on October 22. Candidates may withdraw their nominations until October 24. Polling is scheduled for November 11, with counting to take place on November 14.
The Collector emphasised that with the announcement of the election, the MCC is now in force and will be strictly implemented across the district. SP Amrit Pal Singh assured that the police administration is fully prepared to ensure a peaceful, free, and impartial election. He urged all political parties, citizens, and media personnel to cooperate in maintaining law and order and upholding democratic norms.
