Bhubaneswar: Nuapada by-poll results, which saw the Indian National Congress (INC) secure a second-place finish, present a complex picture of marginal improvement against a backdrop of fundamental failure to capitalize on a seismic political shift. While emerging as the official opposition represents a numerical step up from their previous standing, a deeper analysis reveals a missed opportunity of historic proportions, primarily due to the party’s inability to channel the burgeoning anti-Biju Janata Dal (BJD) sentiment in the state.

The most telling statistic for the party’s performance is the decrease in its overall vote count, despite the BJD’s substantial implosion and consequent loss of power after a 24-year reign. The anti-BJD vote, which was the primary dynamic driving the election

See Full Page