The Nagaon Lok Sabha by‑poll, set for counting on October 9, 2026, pits BJP, Congress and AIUDF in a high‑stakes clash after Congress’s Pradyut Bordoloi vacated the seat by switching to BJP and winning a state assembly seat in 2026.
BJP’s choice of former Deputy Commissioner Debashish Sharma—who retired from the IAS on September 3 and joined the party a week later—has electrified the campaign. Sharma’s swift entry into politics has drawn scrutiny from Congress MP Rakibul Hussain, who filed a complaint with the Assam Chief Electoral Officer questioning decisions Sharma made while serving as Nagaon’s district election officer.
Congress has fielded former Batadroba MLA Sibamoni Bora, bolstered by senior leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Rakibul Hussain, while AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal entered the fray, threatening to split the opposition vote after capturing 8.9% of the Nagaon vote in 2024. Incidents of stone‑throwing and vehicle damage during rallies have raised the stakes in an already volatile three‑way contest.
The outcome will determine whether BJP can consolidate its gains in Assam, with the party’s chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma campaigning aggressively for Sharma. Counting on October 9 will reveal if the BJP can translate a former Congress seat into a parliamentary win or if the split opposition will allow Congress to retain its foothold.