Badruddin Ajmal has stepped up his campaign for the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, claiming that he will win the seat by a margin of one lakh votes. The AIUDF chief made the statement while campaigning at Kachuwa Tiniali in Assam’s Nagaon district on September 17, a day after filing his nomination papers.
The bypoll has drawn attention after Ajmal entered the race against candidates from the BJP, Congress and Trinamool Congress. Polling is scheduled for October 6, while counting will take place on October 9.
Badruddin Ajmal makes bold victory claim
During his campaign, Badruddin Ajmal said the candidate who receives the support and affection of voters in Kachuwa would emerge victorious. He then made a stronger prediction, saying he would win the Nagaon bypoll by one lakh votes.
His claim remains an electoral prediction rather than an established outcome. Voters will decide the result when polling takes place next month.
Ajmal also described the contest as one involving the Congress, BJP and AIUDF. However, the All India Trinamool Congress has also fielded Abdul Salam, making the field broader than the three parties highlighted by the AIUDF chief.
AIUDF chief files nomination
Badruddin Ajmal filed his nomination papers on September 16 along with several other candidates. BJP candidate Debashis Sharma, Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora and TMC candidate Abdul Salam also filed their papers for the bypoll.
Ajmal is currently the MLA from Binnakandi in Assam’s Hojai district. He is also a three-time former Lok Sabha MP from Dhubri and is seeking a return to Parliament after losing the Dhubri seat in the 2024 general election.
The AIUDF had initially considered another candidate before choosing its party president for the high-profile contest. His entry has therefore added a prominent regional political figure to the Nagaon race.
Badruddin Ajmal targets BJP and Congress
Ajmal has said that AIUDF will challenge both the BJP and Congress in the bypoll. Earlier, he said neither party had adequately addressed what he described as the concerns of the minority community.
He also said that an AIUDF victory in Nagaon would help revive the party’s political presence in Assam. These statements reflect the party’s attempt to use the bypoll as an important test of its support ahead of future elections.
Meanwhile, the BJP has nominated former IAS officer Debashis Sharma. Congress has fielded former Batadrava MLA Sibamoni Bora, while TMC has nominated Abdul Salam. The candidates bring different political backgrounds to the contest.
Campaign focuses on local issues
After filing his nomination, Badruddin Ajmal said AIUDF would campaign on issues including eviction drives, price rise, education and healthcare. He has also spoken about flood-related concerns and said these issues would remain part of his campaign.
The focus on local issues comes as Nagaon prepares for a closely watched bypoll. The seat became vacant after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha and later contested the Assam Assembly election from Dispur on a BJP ticket. He won that contest.
Badruddin Ajmal faces a competitive Nagaon race
The Nagaon contest will test the strength of the major parties and AIUDF in a constituency with a long history of electoral competition. The entry of Ajmal has changed the shape of the race, which had earlier been expected to centre mainly on the BJP and Congress.
For Ajmal, the election also offers an opportunity to seek a return to national politics. His one lakh vote prediction has added a strong claim to the campaign, but the actual margin will depend on voter turnout, candidate support and the final distribution of votes on October 6.
The result will be declared on October 9, when voters’ verdict will determine whether Ajmal’s prediction translates into an electoral victory.
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