The Nagaon bypoll has turned into a closely watched contest in Assam, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stepping up his campaign against Congress ahead of the October 6 vote. Sarma said on September 25 that Congress could remain out of the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat for the next 100 years if it loses the by-election.
The chief minister made the remark while addressing a campaign gathering. He also said the BJP wants to win Nagaon and claimed that the party was seeking support across religious lines.
Nagaon bypoll becomes a major BJP target
The Nagaon bypoll became necessary after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha and joined the BJP ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. Bordoloi later won the Dispur Assembly seat, leaving the Nagaon parliamentary constituency vacant.
The BJP has fielded former IAS officer Devasish Sharma. He recently took voluntary retirement from government service before joining the BJP and entering the contest. The party has presented his administrative experience and public service work as part of its campaign.
Meanwhile, Congress has nominated former Batadrava MLA Sibamoni Bora. The contest also includes AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and Trinamool Congress candidate Abdul Salam. A total of 25 candidates filed nomination papers for the by-election.
Congress faces BJP challenge in Nagaon bypoll
The Nagaon bypoll carries significance because the constituency has traditionally been associated with Congress. However, the BJP has pointed to changes in the constituency’s electoral landscape while seeking to expand its support base.
Sarma earlier said a BJP victory in Nagaon could have wider political implications for Assam. He argued that success in the parliamentary bypoll could strengthen the party’s position ahead of future Assembly elections.
At the same time, the chief minister has sought support from different sections of voters. In his September 25 remarks, he referred to support that the BJP had received from a section of Muslim voters in previous elections.
Congress, however, has focused its campaign on issues including floods, erosion and governance. Party leaders have also criticised the BJP-led state government over its handling of these concerns.
Campaign tensions rise ahead of October 6
Political tensions have also increased during the campaign. On September 24, Congress MP Rakibul Hussain alleged that an attack on a party convoy in Nagaon was premeditated and accused the police and district administration of failing to prevent it.
The incident involved stone-pelting during a Congress procession in the Samaguri Assembly segment. Two Congress vehicles suffered damaged windowpanes, while some journalists covering the campaign sustained minor injuries. Congress and BJP leaders have offered competing accounts of the incident.
Congress has alleged that the BJP is attempting to exploit communal divisions during the campaign. The BJP and Sarma have rejected such accusations, while the chief minister has described the opposition’s claims differently.
Nagaon bypoll draws a multi-cornered contest
The Nagaon bypoll is not a direct two-party contest. Along with BJP and Congress, AIUDF and TMC have entered the race, creating a multi-cornered electoral battle. The presence of several candidates could shape the distribution of votes across the constituency.
BJP candidate Devasish Sharma has said the party is contesting to win, while Congress has mobilised senior leaders around Sibamoni Bora’s campaign. Their competing campaigns have made Nagaon an important focus of Assam’s current political activity.
The constituency contains eight Assembly segments. Sarma has highlighted BJP victories in four of those segments during the 2026 Assembly elections, while the opposition won the other four by significant margins.
Voters set to decide Nagaon bypoll outcome
The Nagaon bypoll will take place on October 6, while counting is scheduled for October 9.
For the BJP, the election offers an opportunity to capture a Lok Sabha seat that Congress held before Bordoloi’s departure. For Congress, the contest provides a chance to retain its presence in a constituency where it has maintained a long political base.
Therefore, Sarma’s “100 years” warning reflects the political stakes he has attached to the contest. However, the final outcome will depend on the votes cast on October 6 and the counting process that follows. Until then, both parties will continue their efforts to consolidate support across the constituency.
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