Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll has entered a crucial phase after the Bharatiya Janata Party formally approved former IAS officer Devasish Sharma as its candidate for the October 6 election in Assam. Sharma, who recently served as Nagaon District Commissioner, joined the BJP just days after taking voluntary retirement from government service. The party’s decision has added a new dimension to a contest that is already drawing significant political attention in the state.
BJP backs Devasish Sharma for Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll
The BJP Central Election Committee approved Sharma’s candidature on September 11. The announcement formally ended speculation over whether the former bureaucrat would contest from the constituency after his entry into the party.
Sharma took voluntary retirement on September 3 after more than three decades in government service. He joined the BJP on September 8 and received the party ticket shortly afterwards. His rapid transition from administration to electoral politics has become one of the key talking points around the election.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has highlighted Sharma’s record of public service, including his work through the Deepsikha Foundation, which supports cancer patients from Assam undergoing treatment in Mumbai. The BJP has also pointed to his administrative experience and public connect as important strengths.
Why Sharma’s candidature matters
Sharma brings considerable administrative experience to the BJP campaign. He began his public-service career in 1992 and later held several important positions, including Commissioner of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and District Commissioner of Morigaon and Nagaon.
His recent tenure as Nagaon DC means he is already familiar with the constituency, its administration and many local issues. His background in social work may also help the BJP present him as a candidate with experience beyond electoral politics.
Sharma has said he wants to continue serving people in a political role. After receiving the party’s backing, he thanked the BJP leadership, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and party workers for the confidence placed in him. He also expressed gratitude to the people of Nagaon for their support.
A fast move from bureaucracy to politics
The speed of Sharma’s political transition has attracted attention. He left government service on September 3, joined the BJP on September 8 and was announced as the party’s candidate on September 11.
The timing has prompted questions from the Congress. Party leaders have raised concerns about Sharma’s earlier role as Nagaon District Election Officer and questioned whether his political intentions were already formed while he was holding an election-related administrative position.
Congress MP Rakibul Hussain had approached the Election Commission seeking a review of decisions taken during Sharma’s tenure as district commissioner. Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi also questioned the appropriateness of Sharma serving as an election official if he had already planned to contest on a BJP ticket. The BJP, however, has defended the nomination and pointed to the fact that Sharma had taken voluntary retirement before entering active politics.
Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll set for October 6
The Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll was necessitated after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the parliamentary seat and subsequently joined the BJP. Bordoloi contested the 2026 Assam Assembly election from Dispur on a BJP ticket and won, leaving the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency vacant.
The Election Commission has scheduled polling for October 6, with counting set for October 9. The constituency includes areas of Nagaon and Morigaon districts and remains politically significant because of its demographic and electoral diversity.
The BJP has acknowledged that the contest will not be easy. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has previously indicated that the party would focus on retaining its stronger Assembly segments while improving its performance in areas where it has traditionally faced challenges.
Multi-cornered contest takes shape
The BJP’s candidate announcement comes as other parties prepare for a competitive election. AIUDF has already named Rejaul Karim Sarkar as its candidate, while Assam Trinamool Congress has fielded Dhing College vice-principal Prof Abdul Salam. Congress, meanwhile, is still assessing its options for the seat.
This multi-cornered contest could make the electoral arithmetic particularly important. The Congress won Nagaon in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, but the political landscape has changed considerably since then, including Bordoloi’s switch to the BJP.
With the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll now formally entering the campaign phase, Sharma faces the challenge of converting his administrative profile and public-service background into electoral support. The BJP will also seek to turn its organisational strength and recent gains in Assam into an advantage.
The October 6 election will therefore be an important test for Sharma as he makes his electoral debut and for the BJP as it attempts to expand its position in a constituency that has historically been difficult for the party.