Nagaon bypoll politics intensified on September 15 after Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi accused the BJP of “panicking” following Congress’s decision to field former Batadrava MLA Sibamoni Bora. Gogoi also claimed that the AIUDF’s decision to field party chief Badruddin Ajmal was aimed at helping Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The remarks came as the October 6 parliamentary contest took a sharper turn with major parties finalising their candidates.
Gogoi says BJP has panicked
Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, Gogoi expressed confidence that Congress would run a strong campaign and win the Nagaon bypoll. He said the party’s candidate selection had demonstrated its strength and forced political rivals to reconsider their strategies.
Gogoi specifically linked AIUDF’s decision to field Ajmal with Congress’s announcement of Sibamoni Bora. According to him, AIUDF had initially considered another candidate but changed course after Congress finalised its nominee.
The Congress leader alleged that the BJP had recognised the challenge posed by his party and had turned to what he described as a “trusted political ally”.
Gogoi further claimed that Ajmal’s candidature would ultimately benefit Himanta Biswa Sarma. These are political allegations from the Congress leadership, and neither the BJP nor AIUDF’s decision has been independently established as being made at the BJP’s request.
AIUDF fields Badruddin Ajmal
The political equation changed significantly on Tuesday when AIUDF officially named Badruddin Ajmal as its candidate. Ajmal, the party’s supremo and Binnakandi MLA, will contest the October 6 election, replacing earlier speculation that Rezaul Karim Sarkar could be the party’s nominee.
The announcement came just one day before the September 16 deadline for filing nominations. With Ajmal entering the race, the Nagaon bypoll now features a direct contest among BJP, Congress and AIUDF, although other parties have also entered the field.
Ajmal’s decision is particularly significant because Nagaon has traditionally been an important constituency for Congress. The contest is expected to put the spotlight on vote consolidation, minority voting patterns and the ability of each party to mobilise supporters across the constituency.
Congress fields Sibamoni Bora
Congress named former Batadrava MLA Sibamoni Bora as its candidate on September 14. Her selection followed internal discussions within the party and came amid efforts to strengthen its position in a constituency it considers politically important.
Gogoi has welcomed Bora’s candidature and described her as a strong candidate capable of mounting a serious challenge to the BJP.
The Congress campaign is also unfolding after the party ended its political alliance with Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal earlier this month. The APCC cited alleged violations of alliance norms and “malicious propaganda” against Congress leaders while announcing the decision.
BJP relies on former Nagaon DC
The BJP has nominated former IAS officer Devasish Sharma for the seat. Sharma took voluntary retirement from government service on September 3 and joined the BJP on September 8 before receiving the party nomination.
His candidature has already triggered questions from Congress leaders about his previous role as Nagaon deputy commissioner and district election officer. Congress MP Rakibul Hussain had urged election authorities to scrutinise election-related decisions taken during Sharma’s tenure.
The BJP, meanwhile, is seeking to convert Sharma’s administrative experience and familiarity with the constituency into electoral support.
Multi-cornered contest takes shape
The Nagaon bypoll is not limited to the three principal contenders. The Trinamool Congress has also entered the race with Abdul Salam as its candidate. The party announced his candidature on September 13, adding another layer to the opposition vote arithmetic.
The seat became vacant after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha after winning the Dispur Assembly constituency on a BJP ticket. The by-election will be held on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9. September 16 is the last date for filing nominations, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until September 19.
The growing number of candidates makes vote distribution a central issue. For Congress, retaining its traditional support base will be crucial. The BJP will look to consolidate its expanding presence in Assam, while AIUDF will attempt to translate Ajmal’s personal and organisational influence into votes.
Battle could reshape Assam politics
Gogoi’s latest attack reflects the increasingly aggressive campaign surrounding the Nagaon bypoll. His allegation that BJP and AIUDF are coordinating against Congress is part of the broader political contest and has not been established as fact.
With nominations closing on September 16, the field is now largely taking shape. The October 6 vote will provide an important test of Congress’s strength, BJP’s growing electoral influence and AIUDF’s ability to independently challenge both major parties. The result on October 9 could also influence political narratives in Assam well beyond the constituency itself.
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