Himanta Sarma Links Nagaon Bypoll To BJP’s Big Electoral Ambition In Assam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has raised the political stakes around the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, saying a BJP victory could pave the way for the party to win all 126 Assembly seats in the state in the next election. Sarma said the October 6 contest has assumed significance as the BJP seeks to expand its electoral influence in a constituency historically associated with the Congress.

“If BJP wins the Nagaon bypoll, then in the next Assembly election we will win 126 seats,” Sarma said, underlining the importance he attaches to the contest. He claimed that the BJP had observed a noticeable shift in voter sentiment in its favour over the past month, while acknowledging that converting the trend into an electoral victory would be challenging.

Sarma pointed out that Nagaon is not traditionally a BJP stronghold and has historically favoured the Congress. “We have seen in the last one month that people are inclining towards BJP. But this is not a traditional BJP seat; it has always been Congress,” he said. The remarks come as both parties step up preparations for the bypoll, which is being viewed as an important test of their support in central Assam.

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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 Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency was won by the Congress in both the 2019 and 2024 general elections. The seat became vacant after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned and later joined the BJP before contesting the Dispur Assembly constituency.

For the BJP, a victory would provide an opportunity to demonstrate that its organisational and electoral reach is extending into areas that have traditionally been favourable to the Congress. It could also strengthen the ruling party’s political narrative ahead of future elections in the state. The Congress, meanwhile, would seek to retain the constituency and reinforce its support base in a seat it has held in recent general elections.

The October 6 bypoll is therefore expected to be closely watched by both parties as an indicator of voter sentiment in Assam. While the contest is for a Lok Sabha seat, its political significance extends beyond the immediate result, with the BJP presenting the election as a test of its expanding influence and the Congress seeking to defend a constituency with a long association with the party.

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