Assams Nagaon By-Election Could Pave the Way for BJPs Ambitious 126-Seat Goal, Says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati, September 15 (Daily Kiran) : Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has intensified the political stakes surrounding the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election. He asserted that a victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in this constituency could indicate a significant shift in the state’s electoral landscape, potentially setting the stage for the party to win all 126 assembly seats in the next election.

Sarma noted that the BJP has observed a clear change in voter sentiment over the past month. However, he acknowledged that Nagaon remains a challenging seat due to its historical ties with the Congress party.

“If the BJP wins the Nagaon by-election, we will secure 126 seats in the next assembly elections,” Sarma emphasized, highlighting the importance of the contest scheduled for October 6.

Despite this optimism, the Chief Minister cautioned against viewing Nagaon as a traditional BJP stronghold. He pointed out that the seat has historically favored Congress and stressed that the recent shift in public sentiment must translate into actual electoral success.

“We’ve seen a growing inclination towards the BJP in the past month. However, this is not our traditional seat; it has always been a Congress seat,” Sarma remarked.

As a result, this by-election has become a crucial political test for both major parties ahead of the general elections in 2029.

The BJP has fielded former IAS officer and ex-Deputy Commissioner of Nagaon, Devashish Sharma, while Congress has nominated former legislator Shibamoni Bora from Batadroba. This contest holds particular significance as Congress secured the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in both the 2019 and 2024 general elections. The seat became vacant when Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from Parliament to join the BJP and contest from the Dispur assembly seat.

For the BJP, winning Nagaon would signify more than just a parliamentary by-election victory. It would bolster the party’s claim that its organizational and electoral influence is expanding in areas traditionally dominated by Congress.

Conversely, for Congress, retaining this seat would provide a vital counter-narrative, demonstrating that its traditional voter base in central Assam remains robust.

As both parties view Nagaon as a political bellwether, the results on October 6 will be closely monitored for early indications of Assam’s electoral mood.