Electoral preparations in Assam have picked up pace following the completion of nomination paper scrutiny for the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election. Out of a total of 25 aspirants who submitted their papers, official scrutiny confirmed on Friday that 18 candidates have successfully cleared the verification process. This clearance marks the formal closing of an essential administrative milestone and defines the preliminary pool of contestants gearing up for the parliamentary contest.
Key Contenders and Multi-Cornered Contest
The list of cleared candidates features prominent political figures representing major parties in the state. Bharatiya Janata Party nominee Devasish Sharma, All India United Democratic Front chief Badruddin Ajmal, and Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora all had their nomination papers accepted during the official review. Alongside the three primary political contenders, several smaller parties and independent aspirants have entered the fray, transforming the by-election into a competitive, multi-cornered electoral contest for the vacant seat.
Timeline for Withdrawal and Polling Dates
With the scrutiny phase concluded, participating candidates now enter the withdrawal window. Those intending to withdraw their candidature from the race have time until Saturday, September 19, to complete the necessary formalities. The final roster of contestants will be formally released immediately following the expiration of the withdrawal deadline. According to the notified election schedule, polling across the Nagaon parliamentary constituency is set to take place on October 6, with vote counting scheduled for October 9.
Background of the Parliamentary Vacancy
The bypoll in Nagaon was necessitated by a sequence of political developments earlier this year. Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi vacated the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat prior to the Assam Assembly elections. Bordoloi subsequently switched allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party and contested the Dispur Assembly constituency on a BJP ticket. Following his victory in Dispur, Bordoloi assumed office as a member of the Assam Legislative Assembly, creating the parliamentary vacancy that political parties are now contesting to fill.
