Campaigning for the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election intensified on September 30, with Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal presenting contrasting narratives on development, governance and the issues before voters.
Gogoi described the election as a contest centred on constitutional rights and inclusive development, while Sonowal highlighted the development record of the BJP-led NDA governments at the Centre and in Assam. The bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with counting set for October 9.
Gogoi Focuses on Constitutional Rights
Addressing a campaign rally at Batamari, Gogoi said Congress was fighting to protect the constitutional rights and interests of the people while pursuing inclusive development.
He expressed confidence that Congress would retain the Nagaon seat, which the party has held since 2019, and urged voters to support its candidate Sibamoni Bora. Gogoi said the interests of the people and development would remain central to the party’s campaign.
Congress Lok Sabha MP Imran Masood, who also addressed the rally, appealed to voters to defend democracy and the Constitution. He framed the contest as part of a wider political struggle over justice and constitutional rights.
Sonowal Highlights NDA’s Development Record
At campaign rallies in Morigaon and Batadrawa, Sonowal argued that the BJP-led NDA governments had created new opportunities in development, enterprise and employment.
The Union minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with advancing the development agenda at the Centre and in the state. He cited road and bridge construction, industrial investment and employment generation as examples of the government’s work.
Sonowal also pointed to the Tata Group’s proposed Rs 27,000-crore semiconductor facility at Jagiroad as a major industrial development in the region. He argued that infrastructure investment had changed the development landscape of Nagaon.
BJP Candidate Debashish Sharma in Fray
The BJP has fielded former Nagaon district commissioner Debashish Sharma for the bypoll. Sharma resigned from the civil service earlier this month to enter electoral politics.
Sonowal said Sharma’s administrative experience in the district would help him understand local issues and serve the constituency. He urged voters to support the BJP candidate as part of the NDA’s development agenda.
The Congress, meanwhile, is seeking to retain the seat with Sibamoni Bora as its candidate.
Why the Nagaon Seat Is Up for Polls
The by-election became necessary after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat and subsequently joined the BJP. Bordoloi later contested the Assam Assembly election from Dispur and became an MLA.
The vacancy has turned Nagaon into a closely watched political contest, with both Congress and the BJP-led alliance putting significant focus on the constituency.
Competing Narratives Ahead of October 6
The campaign has increasingly centred on two different sets of issues. Congress leaders have emphasised constitutional rights, democracy and inclusive development, while BJP leaders have focused on infrastructure, investment, employment and the record of the NDA governments.
Sonowal has also accused Congress of pursuing what he described as “divisive politics”, while calling for social harmony among people of different faiths. These are political claims made during campaigning, with the two sides presenting different assessments of governance and the issues facing voters.
With polling scheduled for October 6, campaigning is expected to remain focused on development, governance, constitutional issues and the competing claims of the Congress and BJP-led NDA. The result will be declared on October 9.