Nagaon bypoll: People to vote against communal politics, says Assam Cong chief Gaurav Gogoi
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 21 (IANS) Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Monday stepped up his attack on the BJP over alleged communal politics and the use of religion in electoral campaigning, urging voters to reject what he described as divisive politics in the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election. Addressing an election meeting in Dhing locality in Nagaon, Gogoi said the electorate would send a message against communal politics, linking his remarks to Batadrava, the birthplace of Vaishnavite saint and social reformer Srimanta Sankardeva. This time, people will vote against communal politics, Gogoi said, adding that the message would come from Batadrava. The Congress leader also targeted the BJP over its references to Hinduism, alleging financial irregularities involving funds meant for the Ram Temple and questioning the partys decision to give ministerial positions to individuals facing allegations of cow theft. People from the party that talks about Hinduism steal money meant for the Ram Temple, give tickets to people facing allegations of cow theft and make them ministers, Gogoi said. His remarks came as the Congress intensified its campaign for party candidate Sibamoni Bora, a former MLA from Batadrava. The party had announced Boras candidature earlier this month for the by-election scheduled on October 6, with counting of votes set for October 9. Gogoi has previously described the Nagaon contest as a direct political battle with the BJP and alleged that the BJP and AIUDF share an understanding ahead of the bypoll. The two parties have fielded Devasish Sharma and Badruddin Ajmal, respectively. Congress leaders Rakibul Hussain and Wazed Ali Choudhury also attended the campaign meeting and sought support for Bora. The Nagaon Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi left the party and joined the BJP before winning the Dispur Assembly constituency. The bypoll has turned into a multi-cornered contest, with 25 candidates filing nominations, including nominees from the BJP, Congress, AIUDF and Trinamool Congress.
Nagaon bypoll: BJP candidate expresses confidence of winning the Lok Sabha seat
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 16 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Devasish Sharma has expressed confidence in securing strong voter support in the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, including from minority-dominated areas, as campaigning gains momentum in Assam. Sharma said the BJP was fully prepared for the electoral contest and that he was absolutely confident about the party's prospects. He also extended his best wishes to candidates representing other political parties. The BJP candidate thanked the people of Nagaon, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the state BJP president, Cabinet ministers and MLAs for their support during the election preparations. Emphasising the BJP's governments at the Centre and in Assam, BJP candidate Sharma urged voters to focus on development and long-term public welfare rather than what he described as certain sentimental values that may not prove beneficial in the future. I am sure all the people in the minority areas are also looking for development, Sharma said, expressing his belief that the BJP government could fulfil their aspirations. Sharma further maintained that the party would receive substantial support from minority voters and perform strongly in the by-election. His remarks come as political parties intensify preparations for the Nagaon contest, where the BJP, Congress, AIUDF and other political forces are seeking to consolidate their respective voter bases. The BJP's outreach to minority-dominated areas and its emphasis on development are expected to form important elements of its campaign messaging ahead of polling. The by-election is being closely watched in Assam, given the constituency's political significance and the participation of multiple parties. Sharma's confidence contrasts with the competing claims of rival candidates, including AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, who has also expressed confidence in winning the seat. The Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election is scheduled for October 6, while counting of votes will take place on October 9. The contest assumes additional significance because the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat was won by Congress in the 2019 and 2024 general elections. The seat fell vacant after Pradyut Bordoloi resigned as MP and subsequently joined the BJP before contesting the Dispur Assembly constituency. For the BJP, winning Nagaon would represent more than a parliamentary bypoll victory. It could strengthen the partys claim that its organisational and electoral influence is expanding into areas traditionally dominated by Congress. For the Congress, retaining the seat would provide a crucial counter-narrative and demonstrate that its traditional support base in central Assam remains intact. With both parties treating Nagaon as a political bellwether, the October 6 verdict is likely to be closely watched as an early indicator of Assams electoral mood.
Nagaon bypoll: Ajmal confident of AIUDF win, takes aim at BJP-Congress
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 16 (IANS) All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief, Badruddin Ajmal, has expressed confidence that his party will emerge victorious in the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha bye-election in Assam, asserting that both the BJP and Congress will face defeat in the contest. Speaking in Hojai on Monday, Ajmal said the AIUDF's campaign would focus on what he described as humanity, while taking a swipe at the BJP and Congress over their respective political approaches. The BJP talks about Hindus, while the Congress does not talk about the concerns of either Hindus or Muslims. We talk about humanity, so we are fully confident that we will win, and the other two parties will lose, Ajmal said. The AIUDF chief is set to file his nomination papers for the Nagaon bye-election at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. The party had earlier named Ajmal as its candidate for the bypoll, setting up a closely watched electoral contest in one of Assam's politically significant Lok Sabha constituencies. Ajmal's candidature was announced a day before the deadline for filing nominations. The bye-election was necessitated following the vacancy in the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat. The contest has drawn attention because of the political significance of Nagaon, which has a substantial mix of communities and has traditionally witnessed competition among the BJP, Congress and minority-focussed political forces. Ajmal, who is the AIUDF's founder and chief, is a prominent political figure in Assam and currently represents Binnakandi in the state Assembly. The AIUDF has sought to project its campaign around issues concerning people across communities, with Ajmal positioning the party's approach as distinct from what he described as the BJP's focus on Hindu voters and the Congress' inability to adequately address the concerns of either community. The BJP and Congress are also expected to focus on their respective organisational strengths and voter bases as campaigning gathers pace. With Ajmal entering the fray, the Nagaon bypoll is set to become a significant test for the AIUDF's political standing in central Assam. The AIUDF chief reiterated that his party was confident of securing the seat and defeating both the BJP and Congress in the upcoming election. Meanwhile, the BJP has fielded former IAS officer and former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Devasish Sharma, while the Congress has nominated former Batadroba MLA Sibamoni Bora. The contest assumes additional significance because the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat was won by the Congress in the 2019 and 2024 general elections. The seat fell vacant after Pradyut Bordoloi resigned as MP and subsequently joined the BJP before contesting the Dispur Assembly constituency.
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 15 (IANS) Assam Congress President and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha bye-election, while alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been making a secret pact with Badruddin Ajmal-led all India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) out of panic of a probable win of the Congress in the vacant Lok Sabha seat. Speaking to reporters here, Gogoi said the Congress was preparing for an aggressive campaign and remained confident of defeating its rivals in the October 6 bypoll. We are very confident of putting up a solid campaign, and we are confident of a victory in the forthcoming Nagaon bye-election, he added. Gogoi's remarks came amid indications that the AIUDF may field its President Badruddin Ajmal from Nagaon, potentially adding another significant player to what is already shaping up to be a closely fought political contest. The Congress leader claimed that the AIUDF had reconsidered its earlier candidate strategy after the Congress announced its nominee. According to Gogoi, the development reflected the strength of the Congress' position in the Lok Sabha constituency. Earlier, the AIUDF was thinking about another candidate, but after the Congress party announced its official candidate, the AIUDF have done a rethink, he said. Gogoi also targeted the BJP, alleging that the ruling party in Assam had become concerned after the Congress fielded a strong candidate. He claimed that a possible Badruddin Ajmal's candidature would ultimately work in favour of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The BJP has panicked and understood that the Congress has put forward a strong candidate, Gogoi said, alleging that the BJP had turned to its rusted political ally AIUDF to strengthen its position. The bypoll has consequently emerged as an important political test for both major parties ahead of the 2029 general election. The BJP has fielded former IAS officer and former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Devasish Sharma, while the Congress has nominated former Batadroba MLA Sibamoni Bora. The political contest assumes additional significance because the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat was won by Congress in the 2019 and 2024 general elections. The seat fell vacant after Pradyut Bordoloi resigned as MP and subsequently joined the BJP ending his long association with the Congress just before this year's Assembly polls in the state. Bordoloi also contested successfully on a BJP ticket from Dispur Assembly constituency and he became an MLA. For the BJP, winning Nagaon would represent more than a Parliamentary bypoll victory. It could strengthen the party's claim that its organisational and electoral influence is expanding into areas traditionally dominated by the Congress. For the Congress, retaining the seat would provide a crucial counter-narrative and demonstrate that its traditional support base in central Assam remains intact. With both parties treating Nagaon as a political bellwether, the October 6 verdict is likely to be closely watched as an early indicator of Assam's electoral mood.
Assam bypoll: BJPs Devasish Sharma vs Cong Sibamoni Bora sets up tussle between ex-bureaucrats
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 15 (IANS) The Congress has fielded former Batadroba MLA Sibamoni Bora for the October 6 Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, setting up a high-stakes contest against BJP nominee Devasish Sharma, a former IAS officer and former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner. The contest is shaping up as a direct political battle between two candidates with administrative backgrounds but sharply different electoral journeys. Bora, a former Block Development Officer, entered electoral politics in the 2021 Assam Assembly elections and emerged as one of Congress' prominent winners. Contesting from Batadroba, she defeated sitting BJP MLA and actor-turned-politician Angoorlata Deka by 32,820 votes, polling 84,278 votes and securing nearly 60 per cent of the votes. Her victory gave Congress a significant foothold in a constituency that had earlier been represented by the BJP. Bora also carries a considerable political legacy. She is the daughter of former Batadroba MLA Kiran Bora and a daughter-in-law of Golap Borbora, Assam's first non-Congress Chief Minister. While her family background provides an established political network, her 2021 victory demonstrated her ability to convert that legacy into an electoral mandate. The constituency, however, has undergone major political and geographical transformations since then. The 2023 delimitation exercise abolished the Batadroba Assembly seat and incorporated the area into the Nagaon-Batadraba constituency. Bora's return to electoral politics, therefore, comes in a substantially altered political landscape. The BJP, meanwhile, has placed its bet on Devasish Sharma, a former IAS officer who served as Nagaon's Deputy Commissioner before taking voluntary retirement to enter politics. His administrative tenure could give him familiarity among voters, local officials and political networks, while his candidature represents the BJP's continuing effort to leverage governance credentials in electoral contests. The bypoll became necessary after Congress' Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat and joined the BJP ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. Bordoloi, who had also won Nagaon in 2019, subsequently contested and won the Dispur Assembly seat. The result will therefore carry significance beyond the individual candidates. For Congress, retaining a seat it won in 2019 and 2024 would provide a crucial political boost. For the BJP, capturing Nagaon would underline the party's expanding electoral strength in Assam and convert Bordoloi's defection into a decisive parliamentary gain. Voting will take place on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9.
Assam: BJP-Congress contest in Nagaon bypoll will test politics of fear, says Gaurav Gogoi
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 14 (IANS) Assam Congress president and Jorhat Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Monday said that the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election would essentially be a direct political contest between the BJP and the Congress and described the poll as a test of whether the ruling partys alleged politics of fear would prevail or voters would demonstrate the courage to oppose it. Speaking to IANS, Gogoi said, The main political contest will be between the BJP and the Congress. This election will be an examination of whether the BJP's politics of fear wins, or whether the courage among people against the BJP ultimately translates into a victory for the people. He said the Congress was confident that voters in Nagaon would reject what he described as an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Our full belief is that the people of Nagaon will uproot the atmosphere of fear that the BJP is creating. Today, people are demanding their rights from the government as citizens. They are demanding respect as citizens. People will reject this politics of fear and intimidation, Gogoi said. The bypoll has assumed significance for both the BJP and the Congress after the constituency was vacated by former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi. A two-time Congress MP from Nagaon, Bordoloi resigned from the party and the Lok Sabha earlier this year before joining the BJP ahead of the Assam Assembly elections. He subsequently contested from Dispur on a BJP ticket and won, leaving the Nagaon parliamentary seat vacant. The BJP has now fielded former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner and IAS officer Devasish Sharma for the bypoll. Sharma took voluntary retirement from government service on September 3, joined the BJP on September 8 and was named the partys candidate on September 11, within days of leaving the bureaucracy. His candidature has become another major flashpoint in the campaign. The Congress has questioned the timing of his retirement and political entry, pointing out that Sharma had served as Nagaons District Commissioner as well as District Election Officer before entering electoral politics. Congress MP Rakibul Hussain has approached election authorities seeking scrutiny of decisions taken during Sharmas tenure. The BJP, however, has defended Sharmas candidature, maintaining that there was nothing improper about a government officer entering politics after his voluntary retirement was accepted. The Nagaon contest is particularly important for the Congress as the party seeks to retain a constituency it held in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections under Bordoloi. In the 2024 election, Bordoloi defeated BJP candidate Suresh Bora, while the AIUDF also polled a significant number of votes. The by-election will be held on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9. With the BJP seeking to convert Bordolois switch and Sharmas local administrative profile into electoral advantage, the Congress is attempting to turn the contest into a referendum on the BJP governments style of politics. For Gogoi, therefore, the Nagaon bypoll is more than a fight for a vacant Lok Sabha seat. He has framed it as a choice between what he calls the BJPs fear and intimidation and the courage of voters to demand rights, dignity and accountability from those in power.
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Informing that security force was compelled to fire tear gas shell to dispurse crowd, security sources said that incident took place near Shangkai village, who called for shutdown over the alleged abduction of 14 community members by Naga groups
