With polling scheduled for November 11, election authorities in Nuapada have finalized all logistical and security arrangements for the Assembly by-election, ensuring smooth and transparent voting for more than 2.5 lakh registered voters.
Polling Setup and Logistics
Officials confirmed that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units, and polling materials have been dispatched to 358 booths across the constituency.
Each polling team includes five government staff members and has been assigned specific polling stations. Teams are expected to reach their booths by Monday evening.
Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in most locations, while 47 remote or Maoist-affected booths will close an hour earlier at 4 p.m. to allow safe movement of election personnel and materials.
Webcasting and Monitoring
The Election Commission has deployed webcasting in all polling stations to monitor real-time activity and ensure fairness.
District officials said all polling materials were distributed on time, and vehicle requisition was completed for smooth deployment.
As per the final voter list, 2,53,624 people are eligible to vote — 1,29,495 women and 1,24,108 men. The vote counting will take place on November 14, 2025.
Security Measures in Sensitive Areas
Authorities have classified 47 booths as sensitive and 8 as highly sensitive. To ensure safety, 14 companies of central armed forces have been deployed alongside local police.
Polling teams assigned to Maoist-prone and remote areas will be escorted by specialized security units.
Because eight booths fall within or near the Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary, the Election Commission has arranged helicopter sorties — including assistance from the Indian Air Force — to transport polling teams and equipment to these locations safely.
Code of Conduct and Compliance
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha, announced that the statutory silence period began at 4 p.m. on November 9, restricting campaign activity. Outstation political workers have been asked to leave the constituency, and all campaign materials have been removed from public spaces.
Polling parties will remain at their assigned stations until the close of voting and completion of post-poll procedures.
Background of the Bypoll
The Nuapada by-election was necessitated by the passing of four-time MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8, 2025.
The contest is expected to be a triangular fight among:
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Jay Dholakia (BJP)
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Snehangini Chhuria (BJD)
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Ghasiram Majhi (Congress)
Political analysts predict a close battle, as all major parties have made last-minute efforts to mobilize voters across the region.
