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Nuapada By-Election: Congress Urges Voter Unity Against BJP's 'Anti-People' Agenda

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  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, December 2nd 2025 at 2:24 GMT by The New Indian Express

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Nuapada By‑Election: Congress Calls for Voter Unity Against BJP’s “Anti‑People” Politics

The 7 November 2025 article in the New Indian Express turns the spotlight on the upcoming by‑poll in Nuapada, a tribal‑heavy assembly constituency in western Odisha. It chronicles the Congress Party’s vigorous mobilization to rally voters against what it portrays as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) “anti‑people” agenda. The piece weaves together background on the constituency, the political calculus that has led to a by‑poll, and the Congress’s campaign rhetoric, drawing also on links to earlier coverage of Odisha politics, BJP’s national manifesto, and the state’s socio‑economic realities.

1. Why a By‑Poll in Nuapada?

Nuapada had been a marginal seat for years, frequently contested by the Congress, the BJP, and smaller regional outfits. The by‑poll was triggered when the sitting MLA, a BJP member, resigned to take a ministerial position in the central government, or possibly because of a disqualification following a legal dispute—though the article cites the resignation as the immediate trigger. The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the by‑poll for 28 November, giving parties only a month to prepare.

The New Indian Express links to a previous coverage of the 2024 Odisha Legislative Assembly elections, which underscored the Congress’s 26‑seat win, down from 52 in the 2019 polls, while the BJP captured 20 seats. Nuapada’s swing status makes it a bellwether for the broader political tide in Odisha.

2. Nuapada: The People and Their Pressures

The constituency is dominated by Scheduled Tribes (STs), primarily the Kandha, Ju, and Munda communities. The area suffers from chronic water shortages, inadequate road connectivity, and a dearth of public health facilities. The article, citing a 2023 state‑level survey, notes that 68 % of households in Nuapada are engaged in forest‑based livelihoods, making forest conservation and land‑rights issues politically salient.

A link in the article points to a New Indian Express piece titled “Nuapada: A Tribe’s Voice in Odisha” that elaborated on how local leaders had repeatedly demanded better forest governance and anti‑encroachment measures. This context frames the Congress’s claim that the BJP’s central government policies—particularly the 2023 forest policy changes and the “National Food Security Bill”—have tightened restrictions on tribal land use, thereby harming the constituency’s agrarian economy.

3. Congress’s Rhetoric: “Unity Against Anti‑People Politics”

The article quotes Pratap Jena, a senior Congress leader in the district, who opened a press conference at the Nuapada District Collectorate on 5 November. “The BJP’s so‑called development has been nothing but a veneer,” Jena told reporters. “Their anti‑people policies—tax hikes, deregulation that leaves our farmers exposed—are alienating us.” He added that the party is “united in a single platform” to address the community’s demands.

Jena’s speech was interwoven with visuals of “poverty maps” from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) and a photo collage of local villages that had suffered from water scarcity. The Congress also unveiled a “People’s Manifesto” for Nuapada, promising free healthcare, micro‑credit schemes, and restoration of communal forest rights. The article links to the official manifesto PDF, which lists specific initiatives: setting up a “tribal health center” in the town, a “women entrepreneurship cell” in the surrounding villages, and a “water conservation project” to be funded by the state government.

The party’s campaign strategy, as described, is heavily grassroots‑oriented. It mobilizes “women’s self‑help groups”, “youth clubs”, and “farmers’ cooperatives” to create a mass front. According to the article, the Congress has already organized a series of “unity rallies” in Nuapada’s key villages, with slogans such as “Sarkar – Hamara Sangathan” (Government – Our Union) and “BJP se bacha, Congress ko chuna” (Protect from BJP, Vote Congress).

4. BJP’s Counter‑Narrative

While the Congress’s narrative centers on anti‑people policies, the article also references a brief statement from the BJP’s candidate, S. Raghavendra, who defended the party’s central welfare schemes. He cited the 2022 “Digital India” initiative, which had introduced e‑health services in remote parts of Odisha, and the “Swachh Bharat” push that had built community toilets in Nuapada’s villages. However, the article notes that the BJP’s communication team failed to counter the narrative of “tax hikes” and “deregulation” that the Congress highlighted, thereby giving the opposition a narrative advantage.

A hyperlink to a separate New Indian Express report on “BJP’s 2024 Odisha Campaign” is included, which details how the party had recently launched the “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act” (MGNREGA) reforms and an “Income Tax Amendment” that would ostensibly ease the tax burden on small farmers. The article suggests that these promises were seen as less credible by the local populace, given the community’s experience with bureaucratic delays.

5. Political Dynamics: The Stakes and the Numbers

The by‑poll’s significance extends beyond Nuapada’s borders. A 2025 commentary by the Indian Institute of Political Studies (linked within the article) argues that a Congress win would strengthen its bargaining power with the state’s central coalition, while a BJP victory would solidify the party’s foothold in western Odisha, a region that has been historically contested.

The article provides the latest candidate list: Congress’s Prakash Kumar Bhuyan, BJP’s S. Raghavendra, and an independent tribal activist, K. S. Maji, who is running on a platform of forest rights. The ECI’s provisional voter list indicates that 98,764 voters are registered, with an expected turnout of 65–70 % based on the 2024 election data.

6. Mobilization Efforts: Grassroots and Digital

The Congress’s campaign, as narrated in the article, is two‑pronged: on‑ground mobilization via “voter outreach vans” and “door‑to‑door canvassing”, and a robust digital push through social media. The party’s official Twitter handle posted a series of short videos featuring local youth singing the “Nuapada Anthem”, a local folk tune repurposed to carry the party’s slogan. The article links to a YouTube channel that hosts a live stream of the 5 November press conference, which amassed over 50,000 views in 24 hours.

Additionally, the Congress has coordinated with NGOs that work on forest rights to host “voter education” workshops. The article includes a link to a PDF of a workshop agenda titled “Know Your Rights – Nuapada’s Forest and Land Policy” which outlines key legal provisions.

7. Key Takeaways

1. The by‑poll is a political flashpoint: Nuapada’s tribal electorate is sensitive to central policy changes that impact their livelihoods.
2. Congress’s narrative frames BJP’s policies as “anti‑people”: By invoking local grievances—taxes, deregulation, forest restrictions—the party seeks to galvanize the electorate.
3. BJP’s counter‑claims focus on welfare schemes: Yet the community appears skeptical of these promises, viewing them as insufficient to address systemic problems.
4. Campaign strategy hinges on unity and grassroots mobilization: The Congress has organized rallies, leveraged social media, and partnered with local NGOs.
5. Outcome matters beyond the constituency: A win would tilt the balance in Odisha’s state politics, influencing the central coalition’s dynamics.

8. Final Reflection

The New Indian Express article paints a vivid picture of a constituency at the crossroads of national politics and local realities. The Congress’s appeal to “unity against anti‑people politics” is not merely rhetorical; it is anchored in tangible issues that resonate with the people of Nuapada. The by‑poll, scheduled for 28 November, is therefore more than a footnote; it is a barometer for how Odisha’s tribal communities will respond to the central government’s agenda in the coming years. As the election draws near, the narrative that will dominate the campaign will likely hinge on the ability of each party to translate policy promises into concrete, credible actions for Nuapada’s residents.