Nagaon By-Election Becomes Triangular Contest in Assam
The Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, and AIUDF compete in the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election on October 6, with results expected on October 9.
The Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election in central Assam has evolved into a triangular contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Indian National Congress, and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). The election was triggered by the resignation of former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi. The BJP is fielding former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Debashish Sharma, while the Congress has nominated Sibamoni Bora. The entry of AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal into the race has complicated the landscape in the Muslim-majority seat, where Muslims comprise over 55% of the 1.9 million voters.
The Congress has accused the AIUDF of collaborating with the BJP to split opposition votes. State Congress president Gaurav Gogoi claimed Ajmal's candidacy is part of a BJP-backed strategy to weaken the opposition. Conversely, the BJP views a potential victory as a stepping stone toward winning all 126 Assembly seats in 2031.
Voting takes place on Tuesday, October 6, with results scheduled for October 9. To secure the process, 11,535 personnel and 2,307 polling teams have been deployed across 2,112 polling stations. Election officials have identified 624 of these stations as sensitive. Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel has urged voters to turn out in large numbers for the poll.
