Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the BJP has received support from sections of minority communities in Nagaon for several years.
Sarma made the statement while discussing the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election. The bypoll will take place on October 6, 2026. Vote counting will take place on October 9.
The Chief Minister referred to previous election results while making his claim. He said the BJP received more than 40,000 votes across four Assembly segments within the constituency during the last Lok Sabha election.
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CM Cites Previous Election Figures
Sarma referred to Dhing, Rupohihat, Laharighat and Samaguri while discussing the BJP’s support base.
He said these areas have sizeable minority populations. According to Sarma, the BJP’s vote share in these areas indicates that some minority voters have supported the party.
The Chief Minister also acknowledged that the BJP’s share of minority votes remains smaller than its support among other communities. However, he said the party has maintained a certain level of backing among minority voters.
Sarma also expressed the view that this support could increase during the upcoming by-election.
Development and Governance Cited as Factors
The Assam Chief Minister linked the BJP’s minority support to the government’s development work.
He pointed to development initiatives, peace and law and order as factors that he believes have influenced voters. Sarma said people from different communities have supported the BJP in previous elections.
The BJP has also highlighted government welfare schemes while reaching out to minority voters in Assam. During the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign, Sarma had referred to welfare programmes while seeking support in minority-dominated constituencies.
Nagaon Prepares for Lok Sabha Bypoll
The Nagaon Lok Sabha seat will see a multi-party contest in October.
The by-election follows the resignation of former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi. BJP candidate Debashish Sharma, Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal are among the prominent candidates in the contest.
The constituency has a significant minority population. Several Assembly segments have also seen strong competition between the BJP, Congress and AIUDF in recent elections.
Earlier this month, Sarma said Nagaon was not traditionally a BJP stronghold. He noted that the party had lost the constituency by around 2.5 lakh votes in the previous Lok Sabha election. He said the BJP would focus on improving its performance across the Assembly segments.
BJP Campaign Focuses on Wider Support
The BJP has increasingly highlighted its outreach to minority-dominated areas during the Nagaon campaign.
BJP candidate Debashish Sharma has also said that he expects support from minority areas. He has argued that voters in these areas are looking for development and better government services.
Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia has similarly said that the party’s organisational activities in minority-dominated areas have created an impression of support among sections of minority voters.
These statements form part of the BJP’s campaign ahead of the by-election.
Nagaon Remains Politically Competitive
Nagaon has remained an important constituency in Assam’s electoral politics. The seat includes areas with different demographic and political profiles.
The BJP, Congress and AIUDF have established support bases across different parts of the constituency. The upcoming bypoll has therefore attracted attention from the major political parties.
Sarma’s latest remarks place minority support at the centre of the BJP’s campaign narrative. His comments also point to the party’s effort to expand its support across different communities in Nagaon.
With polling scheduled for October 6, campaigning is expected to remain focused on development, governance, community outreach and local political issues.