The Nuapada Assembly bypoll, a hotly anticipated election in western Odisha, got underway with polling on Tuesday morning. The constituency, which became vacant after four-term MLA Rajendra Dholakia passed away on September 8, 2025, has 358 polling places where more over 2.53 lakh voters can cast ballots.
In most booths, voting will take place from 7 AM until 5 PM. However, in order to secure the safe return of poll workers before dusk, voting will end an hour earlier, at 4 PM, in 47 rural and Maoist-affected polling locations.

Major Parties in a Triangular Contest
Three well-known candidates—Jay Dholakia of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Snehangini Chhuria of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), and Ghasiram Majhi of the Indian National Congress (INC)—are now engaged in a triangular contest in the by-election.
For all three parties, the result might have a significant impact on the political narrative in western Odisha.
Jay Dholakia, the late MLA Rajendra Dholakia's son, is running on a BJP ticket, relying on the support of the community and his father's legacy. The primary opposition BJD's Snehangini Chhuria, a former minister and two-term lawmaker from the same constituency, is attempting to regain lost ground. In an attempt to restore prominence in the area, the Congress, which formerly had a significant presence in Nuapada, has put forward Ghasiram Majhi.

Strict Air Surveillance and Security in Maoist Areas
The administration has put in place a comprehensive security framework to guarantee a free and fair election. In addition to the state police, fourteen companies of central armed police forces have been stationed throughout the constituency. Additional armed people have been placed in the eight highly sensitive and 47 sensitive booths.
Polling teams were evacuated by helicopter since a number of polling places are situated in inaccessible or Maoist-influenced locations, especially close to the Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary.
Election officials claim that in order to transport polling workers and election supplies to these challenging areas, the Election Commission organised separate helicopter flights through the Indian Air Force.According to senior police personnel, mobile teams have been stationed on important roads to respond to any security incidents, and 24-hour monitoring is in place. In order to stop outsiders from moving around and distributing illegal inducements, checkpoints have been placed at key locations.
EVM Preparedness and Webcasting for Easy Polling
Polling authorities moved Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units, and polling supplies to all 358 stations on Monday after completing the last technical and logistical preparations. Five government employees and security guards make up each polling party.
The Chief Electoral Officer's office in Bhubaneswar can observe polling in real time thanks to webcasting, according to District Election Officer Pradeep Kumar Jena.

Additional voter assistance measures, such as drinking water, first aid, and ramps, have been implemented by the Election Commission. Polling staff were told to follow election procedures to the letter and to notify the control rooms of any irregularities right away.
The district headquarters will host the vote counting on November 14, 2025, under three-tier security procedures, according to official confirmation. CCTV cameras will be installed at the counting location, and only authorised workers will be permitted admission.