Full Breakdown
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Leads in Assam’s Nagaon Lok Sabha By-poll Amidst Shifting Alliances
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Core Event: Counting Shows BJP’s Devashish Sharma Ahead
On Friday, October 9 2026, the Election Commission’s live count indicated that BJP candidate Devashish Sharma held a substantial lead over his nearest rival, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, in the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-poll. The Hindu’s tally placed Sharma at 1,81,017 votes, Ajmal at 1,05,769 votes and Congress nominee Sibamoni Bora at 29,826 votes, giving Sharma a margin of 75,248 votes. Counting was conducted at Dawson Higher Secondary School and Nagaon Government Boys’ School under tight security.
Background & Context
The by-poll was triggered after two-term Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned, joined the BJP, and won the Dispur Assembly seat in April 2026. Bordoloi had held Nagaon in 2019 and 2024, making it a long-standing Congress stronghold. His departure gave the BJP a chance to convert the switch into a parliamentary gain.
Key Figures & Groups
- Devashish Sharma – former IAS officer and District Commissioner of Nagaon, BJP candidate.
- Badruddin Ajmal – AIUDF chief, MLA and three-time former MP, contesting as an independent challenger.
- Sibamoni Bora – former Batadroba MLA, Congress candidate.
- Akhil Gogoi – Raijor Dal chief, former Congress ally, critic of the Congress campaign.
- Gaurav Gogoi – Assam Congress president.
Data & Statistics
- Electorate: 19.05 lakh voters (including 9.43 lakh women and 50 third-gender voters).
- Turnout: 76.19 % on October 6 2026, highest in Samaguri (80.27 %) and lowest in Raha (70.55 %).
- Vote totals: Sharma 1,81,017; Ajmal 1,05,769; Bora 29,826.
Official Statements & Responses
BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, framed Sharma’s candidacy as a continuation of development work in Nagaon, emphasizing his administrative experience. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi warned that AIUDF’s entry could split the anti-BJP vote, a claim AIUDF rejected, calling its contest independent. The Election Commission confirmed that counting proceeded without major incident, while both parties urged adherence to the code of conduct.
Criticism & Opposition
Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi called the Congress defeat a “historic setback” and said the party’s minority vote share had collapsed from 25 % to 5 %, linking the loss to a failure to retain Muslim support, who form more than 55 % of the Nagaon electorate.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact vote counts. The Hindu reports Sharma’s tally at 1,81,017, while Economic Times and NDTV list higher figures. Corresponding numbers for Ajmal and Bora also vary. No official final result has been released, leaving precise margins unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The minority vote share for Congress has plummeted from 25% to just 5%,” — Akhil Gogoi, Raijor Dal chief
- “Voters will elect a suitable candidate,” — Devashish Sharma, Nagaon Deputy Commissioner
- “Everyone is aware that BJP and AIUDF are the same entity, but I am confident that Congress will retain the seat.” — Sibamoni Bora