Nagaon bypoll: BJP's Dilip Saikia claims Rakibul Hussain remarks may swing 10,000 minority votes
Synopsis
Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia has made a striking claim on the campaign trail: that every attack Congress MP Rakibul Hussain levels at BJP's Nagaon bypoll candidate Debashish Sharma actually drives around 10,000 minority votes toward the BJP. With polling just days away on 6 October, the three-cornered contest between BJP, Congress, and AIUDF is intensifying — and minority voter behaviour could be decisive.
Key Takeaways
Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia claimed on 23 September that Congress MP Rakibul Hussain's remarks against BJP's Nagaon candidate could swing around 10,000 minority votes to the BJP.
BJP has fielded former IAS officer Debashish Sharma , who took voluntary retirement on 3 September and joined the party shortly after.
Congress candidate is former Batadroba MLA Sibamoni Bora ; AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal is also contesting.
The Nagaon Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi switched to BJP and won the Dispur Assembly seat.
Polling is on 6 October ; vote counting is set for 9 October .
Assam Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Dilip Saikia on Wednesday, 23 September claimed that critical remarks by Congress MP Rakibul Hussain against the BJP's Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll candidate Debashish Sharma were backfiring on the Congress, asserting that around 10,000 votes from the minority community could shift towards the BJP as a result. Saikia made the assertion at a party workers' convention in Juria, Rupohihat locality of Nagaon, as the BJP stepped up its campaign ahead of the 6 October by-election.
What Saikia Said
"Whenever Rakibul Hussain says something against BJP candidate Debashish Sharma, around 10,000 votes from the minority community automatically move towards the BJP," Saikia said, addressing the gathering. The remark is notable for its framing: the Assam BJP chief is effectively arguing that opposition attacks are consolidating support for his party's candidate rather than undermining it. The claim is unverified and represents the BJP leader's political assessment, not an independently established figure.
The Convention and Campaign Mood
Around 500 BJP workers from different organisational Mandals in Rupohihat attended the meeting, which focused on campaign planning and strengthening the party's organisational machinery ahead of polling. Senior leaders at the gathering highlighted the state government's development initiatives and sought greater support for Sharma. Barhampur MLA Jitu Goswami, Nagaon district BJP president Subarna Singh, BJP leader Suresh Bora, and other district-level office-bearers were present.
Why the Nagaon Seat Fell Vacant
The Nagaon Lok Sabha seat became vacant after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha and subsequently won the Dispur Assembly seat on a BJP ticket — an unusual sequence that itself signalled the political flux in the constituency. The BJP has fielded Debashish Sharma, a former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner who took voluntary retirement from the IAS on 3 September and joined the party shortly afterwards.
The Contestants
The Congress has nominated former Batadroba MLA Sibamoni Bora, while AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal is also in the fray. The nominations of Sharma, Bora, and Ajmal were among those found valid during scrutiny. The three-cornered contest has generated sharp exchanges between the major parties as campaigning gathers pace.
Key Dates and What to Watch
Polling is scheduled for 6 October, with vote counting set for 9 October. The contest pits a BJP candidate with an administrative background against seasoned political figures from the Congress and the AIUDF, making the minority voter calculus a central talking point in the campaign's final stretch. How actual minority voting patterns align with Saikia's projection will be closely watched when results are declared.
Point of View
000-vote claim is a classic campaign counterpunch — framing an opponent's attack as self-defeating — but it also signals how central minority voter sentiment is to the BJP's Nagaon calculus. Fielding a retired IAS officer rather than a career politician is itself an unconventional bet, suggesting the BJP is banking on administrative credibility over political loyalty. The AIUDF's Badruddin Ajmal in the contest further complicates the minority vote arithmetic, potentially splitting it in ways that benefit the BJP regardless of what Saikia claims. The real story will be told on 9 October: if the minority vote does fracture between Congress and AIUDF, Sharma's administrative profile may be enough to carry him through.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll and when is it scheduled?
The Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll is a by-election to fill the Nagaon parliamentary seat in Assam, scheduled for 6 October with vote counting on 9 October. The seat fell vacant after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned and subsequently won the Dispur Assembly seat on a BJP ticket.
Who are the main candidates in the Nagaon bypoll?
The BJP has fielded former IAS officer Debashish Sharma, who took voluntary retirement on 3 September and joined the party shortly after. The Congress has nominated former Batadroba MLA Sibamoni Bora, and AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal is also contesting. All three nominations were found valid during scrutiny.
What did Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia claim about minority votes?
Saikia claimed that every time Congress MP Rakibul Hussain criticises BJP candidate Debashish Sharma, around 10,000 votes from the minority community shift towards the BJP. He made this assertion at a party workers' convention in Rupohihat, Nagaon, on 23 September. The figure represents Saikia's political assessment and is not independently verified.
Why did the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat become vacant?
The seat fell vacant after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha and later won the Dispur Assembly constituency on a BJP ticket. His switch from Congress to BJP made the Nagaon seat available for the bypoll.
What is AIUDF's role in the Nagaon bypoll contest?
AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal is contesting the Nagaon bypoll, creating a three-cornered contest alongside BJP and Congress. His presence adds complexity to the minority voter arithmetic, as it could split votes between AIUDF and Congress — a dynamic that BJP leaders argue works in their favour.
