Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll: BJP's Devasish Sharma confident of winning on October 6
Synopsis
The Nagaon Lok Sabha seat — won by Congress in both 2019 and 2024 — has become BJP's most ambitious bypoll target in Assam. With candidate Devasish Sharma openly courting minority voters on a development platform and AIUDF's Badruddin Ajmal also projecting confidence, the 6 October vote is shaping up as a three-way test of Assam's shifting political loyalties.
Key Takeaways
BJP candidate Devasish Sharma has expressed confidence of winning the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election , including from minority-dominated areas.
Polling is scheduled for 6 October and counting for 9 October 2026 .
The seat was won by Congress in both 2019 and 2024 general elections.
The vacancy arose after former MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned, joined the BJP, and contested the Dispur Assembly seat.
AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal has also declared confidence in winning, signalling a competitive multi-party contest.
The result is expected to serve as a political bellwether for Assam's broader electoral mood.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Devasish Sharma has expressed strong confidence in securing victory in the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, scheduled for 6 October 2026, asserting that his party would draw substantial support even from minority-dominated areas in Assam. The bypoll, with vote counting set for 9 October, is shaping up as one of the most politically consequential contests in the state this year.
Sharma's Campaign Pitch
Speaking as campaigning intensified across the constituency, Sharma said he was 'absolutely confident' about the BJP's prospects and extended good wishes to candidates of rival parties. He thanked Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the state BJP president, Cabinet ministers, and MLAs for their support during the election build-up.
Sharma's core campaign message centres on development over what he described as 'certain sentimental values' that, in his view, may not deliver long-term public welfare. 'I am sure all the people in the minority areas are also looking for development,' he said, expressing confidence that the BJP government could fulfil those aspirations.
Why Nagaon Matters
The seat carries considerable weight. Congress won the Nagaon constituency in both the 2019 and 2024 general elections, making it a traditional stronghold for the party in central Assam. The seat fell vacant after sitting MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned and subsequently joined the BJP before contesting the Dispur Assembly constituency — a sequence that has added an unusual political dimension to the bypoll.
For the BJP, a win here would signal that its organisational reach is expanding into Congress territory in Assam. For Congress, retaining the seat would serve as evidence that its support base in central Assam remains durable despite the defection of its former MP.
A Multi-Party Contest
The BJP is not the only party projecting confidence. All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal has also publicly declared his optimism about winning the seat, underlining the competitive nature of the contest. The BJP, Congress, AIUDF, and other political forces are all working to consolidate their respective voter bases ahead of polling day.
Notably, the BJP's outreach to minority-dominated pockets — traditionally not among the party's strongest areas — is a deliberate strategic move, reflecting the party's ambition to broaden its coalition in Assam beyond its existing base.
What the Result Could Signal
Political analysts are watching the 6 October verdict as an early barometer of Assam's electoral mood. With both major national parties treating Nagaon as a bellwether, the outcome could shape narratives heading into future state and national electoral cycles. The BJP's ability to cut into minority vote share, and Congress's ability to hold its traditional constituency despite losing its sitting MP to a rival party, will both be under scrutiny when results are declared on 9 October.
Point of View
Meanwhile, is fighting to prove that a constituency is more than its MP, given that Pradyut Bordoloi's defection was supposed to hollow out its base. What is often missed is that the seat's outcome will be read not just as a Nagaon verdict but as a proxy referendum on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's consolidation of Assam — making the 9 October count date far more consequential than a routine bypoll.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election scheduled?
The Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election is scheduled for 6 October 2026, with vote counting set for 9 October 2026. The bypoll is being held after the seat fell vacant following the resignation of former MP Pradyut Bordoloi.
Why did the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat fall vacant?
The Nagaon seat fell vacant after sitting MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from Parliament. He subsequently joined the BJP and contested the Dispur Assembly constituency, triggering the by-election.
Who are the main candidates in the Nagaon bypoll?
The principal contestants include BJP candidate Devasish Sharma and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, alongside Congress and other political parties. Both Sharma and Ajmal have publicly expressed confidence in winning the seat.
Why is the Nagaon bypoll politically significant?
Congress won the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in both the 2019 and 2024 general elections, making it a traditional stronghold. A BJP victory would signal the party's expanding electoral footprint in central Assam, while a Congress retention would demonstrate the durability of its support base despite losing its sitting MP.
What is the BJP's campaign strategy in Nagaon?
The BJP's campaign, led by candidate Devasish Sharma, is emphasising development and long-term public welfare, explicitly targeting minority-dominated areas that have not traditionally backed the party. Sharma has argued that minority voters too are seeking development and that the BJP government can deliver on those aspirations.
