Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election becomes three-way contest

The Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election has transitioned into a triangular contest following the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) decision to field its president, Badruddin Ajmal. The election will now feature a three-way battle between the AIUDF, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Indian National Congress.

The BJP has nominated Devashish Sharma, a former IAS officer and Deputy Commissioner of Nagaon and Morigaon districts. The Congress party has fielded Sibamoni Bora, a former MLA from the Batadroba region. The entry of Ajmal is expected to significantly impact electoral calculations, particularly within the constituency's demographic split, which consists of approximately 60 per cent minorities and 40 per cent non-minorities.

In preparation for the vote, the Income Tax Department has established a 24x7 control room and complaint cell to monitor and curb the use of illicit funds or black money during the campaign. The department has urged the public to report any suspected electoral malpractices involving unaccounted valuables.