Ajmal is CM's vote-splitter in Nagaon bypoll, alleges Gogoi

Ajmal is Assam CM's '108' service, says Gaurav Gogoi

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has alleged a "secret alliance" between Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Mohammed Badruddin Ajmal, accusing the latter of entering the Nagaon parliamentary by-election to divide opposition votes and benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Speaking at a party rally in Dhing, Nagaon district, the Jorhat MP described Ajmal as Sarma's "108": a reference to the Emergency Response Service, a toll-free 24/7 helpline in the country, primarily for ambulances. The metaphor suggests Ajmal serves as the Chief Minister's on-call support mechanism in politically sensitive contests.

AIUDF candidature questioned

Gogoi, who was campaigning for Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora, claimed the AIUDF had a different candidate in mind for Nagaon but its chief nominated himself after learning that Congress had fielded a strong candidate in Bora. "Badruddin Ajmal is contesting the Nagaon seat to benefit the BJP. He is Himanta Biswa Sarma's 108," Gogoi told the rally.

The Congress leader indicated that Ajmal's candidature was part of the BJP's strategy to counter Congress in minority-dominated constituencies like Nagaon.

By-election triggered by defection

The election to the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat is scheduled for October 6. The bypoll became necessary after Pradyut Bordoloi, who won the constituency for the second time in 2024, quit Congress and joined the BJP. Bordoloi contested and won the Dispur Assembly seat for the BJP in April 2026.

Multi-cornered contest expected

The Nagaon by-election is expected to witness a three-cornered contest involving Congress's Bora, the BJP's bureaucrat-turned-politician Devasish Sharma, and the AIUDF's Ajmal.

Other candidates in the fray include Inamul Huda of the Revolutionary Communist Party of India (Rashik Bhatt), Barnali Sharma of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), Hafiz Burhanuddin of the National Road Map Party of India, and nine independents. The Assam Trinamool Congress nominated academic Abdul Salam, but withdrew his candidature after the Election Commission of India froze the party name and symbol.

Source: The Hindu