Nagaon LS bypoll records 76% turnout; BJP, Congress, AIUDF in three-way fight
Synopsis
The Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll in Assam drew a robust 76% turnout on 6 October, setting up a high-stakes three-way contest between BJP, Congress and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal. The seat — twice won by a Congress MP who defected to BJP — is a crucial test of whether Congress can hold its Assam stronghold without its star candidate, and whether AIUDF can tip the balance.
Key Takeaways
The Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll in Assam recorded approximately 76% turnout from 19.05 lakh registered voters on 6 October 2026 .
The bypoll was triggered by former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi 's resignation on 20 March 2026 after he defected to the BJP .
The main contest is between BJP 's Devashish Sharma , Congress nominee Sibamoni Bora , and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal , among 15 total candidates.
Congress won Nagaon in both 2019 and 2024 , making this bypoll a key test of its hold on the seat.
Congress MP Rakibul Hussain alleged irregularities in the Samaguri segment; the claims were not independently verified.
Vote counting is scheduled for 9 October 2026 .
The Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election in Assam concluded peacefully on Monday, 6 October 2026, with approximately 76 per cent of the constituency's 19.05 lakh registered electors casting their votes by the 5 pm deadline, according to election officials. The final turnout figure is expected to edge higher, as polling personnel permitted voters who had entered stations before closing time to complete their vote.
Why the Bypoll Was Called
The by-election was triggered after former Congress Lok Sabha member Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha on 20 March 2026, having defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Bordoloi subsequently contested and won the Dispur Assembly seat in the Assam Assembly elections, leaving the Nagaon parliamentary constituency vacant. Voting was held across all eight Assembly segments that make up the constituency, with polling beginning at 7 am.
The Key Contestants
A total of 15 candidates are in the fray, with the principal contest shaping up as a three-way battle between BJP candidate Devashish Sharma, Congress nominee Sibamoni Bora, and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal. The presence of Ajmal, a prominent political figure in Assam, has added a significant dimension to the contest and drawn considerable public attention to the seat.
Congress's Track Record and What Is at Stake
Nagaon has been a Congress stronghold across the last two Lok Sabha cycles. In 2019, Bordoloi defeated BJP's Rupak Sharma by a narrow margin, and in 2024, he widened that lead by defeating BJP's Suresh Borah. The bypoll now tests whether Congress can defend the seat without its two-time winner — and in the face of a split in the minority vote that AIUDF's Ajmal is expected to influence. For the BJP, winning Nagaon would represent a notable gain, particularly given that its own defector-turned-candidate Bordoloi vacated the seat.
Allegations of Irregularities
Congress leader and Dhubri Lok Sabha MP Rakibul Hussain alleged during polling that unidentified persons had entered several polling stations in the Samaguri Assembly segment. He also accused the BJP of attempting to influence the polling process. The allegations were not independently verified. Election authorities maintained that security arrangements were in place across the constituency to ensure a smooth process.
What Happens Next
Vote counting is scheduled for 9 October 2026, when the electoral fate of all 15 candidates will be determined. The result is expected to serve as a barometer of the broader political mood in one of Assam's key parliamentary constituencies, with implications for the relative strength of the BJP, Congress, and AIUDF in the state heading into future electoral cycles.
Point of View
Potentially handing BJP a windfall gain it did not earn through persuasion. The broad-daylight defection of Bordoloi — and the question of whether voters punish or reward such floor-crossing — makes this result a signal beyond Nagaon alone, especially with Assam's political alignments still in flux.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll held?
The bypoll was necessitated after sitting Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha on 20 March 2026 following his defection to the BJP. He subsequently won the Dispur Assembly seat, leaving Nagaon vacant and triggering the by-election.
What was the voter turnout in the Nagaon bypoll?
Approximately 76 per cent of the constituency's 19.05 lakh registered electors voted by the 5 pm close on 6 October 2026. The final figure is expected to be slightly higher, as voters already inside polling stations at closing time were permitted to cast their ballots.
Who are the main candidates in the Nagaon bypoll?
The principal contest is between BJP's Devashish Sharma, Congress nominee Sibamoni Bora, and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal. A total of 15 candidates are in the fray.
When will the Nagaon bypoll result be declared?
Vote counting is scheduled for 9 October 2026, when the result for all 15 candidates will be determined.
How significant is the Nagaon seat for Congress?
Nagaon has been a Congress stronghold, with the party winning the seat in both 2019 and 2024. The bypoll is a key test of whether Congress can retain it despite Pradyut Bordoloi's defection to BJP and the challenge posed by AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal.
